Paul Kennedy of Soccer America reports on the total team meltdown by France.
The French national team was thrown intro disarray on Sunday when it players boycotted a public training session at its base in Knysna in support of Nicolas Anelka, who had been sent home after he insulted Coach Raymond Domenech and refused to apologize.
The move followed a dispute between captain Patrice Evra and fitness coach Robert Duverne.
Evra had earlier blamed the problems on a "traitor" who leaked what Anelka said to Domenech to the French newspaper L'Equipe.
That person has not been identified.
France team director Jean-Louis Valentin left the field in tears, saying he was not the traitor and announcing he was quitting.
“It’s a scandal for French people, for the youngsters who came here to watch them train," said Valentin. "I’m resigning, I’m leaving the Federation. I have nothing more to do here. I’m going back to Paris.”
France lost to Mexico, 2-0, on Thursday and has little chance of advancing to the second round. The Bleus play host South Africa on Tuesday in Bloemfontein.
The French national team was thrown intro disarray on Sunday when it players boycotted a public training session at its base in Knysna in support of Nicolas Anelka, who had been sent home after he insulted Coach Raymond Domenech and refused to apologize.
The move followed a dispute between captain Patrice Evra and fitness coach Robert Duverne.
Evra had earlier blamed the problems on a "traitor" who leaked what Anelka said to Domenech to the French newspaper L'Equipe.
That person has not been identified.
France team director Jean-Louis Valentin left the field in tears, saying he was not the traitor and announcing he was quitting.
“It’s a scandal for French people, for the youngsters who came here to watch them train," said Valentin. "I’m resigning, I’m leaving the Federation. I have nothing more to do here. I’m going back to Paris.”
France lost to Mexico, 2-0, on Thursday and has little chance of advancing to the second round. The Bleus play host South Africa on Tuesday in Bloemfontein.
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