France threaten final group match boycott
France coach Raymond Domenech has stated that some of his players could possibly refuse to play in their final match of the group stages of the World Cup following the sending home of Nicolas Anelka.
The Chelsea striker was sent home from the competition after verbally abusing coach Domenech during half-time of France’s 2-0 defeat to Mexico last week.
Domenech was asked whether there was a chance of his squad not playing in their final match, to which he responded “it is a possibility’.
Anelka refused to apologise for his outburst towards his coach, after which a statement was issued by the French Football Federation, back by Domenech.
“Nobody can behave in such a way in the dressing room or elsewhere and high-level sportsmen and women have to lead by example through football,” he added.
“The three or four leaders are players past their prime who will never play a World Cup again.” said FFF general secretary Henri Monteil.
“We had to do something – the French people had a right to know,” added Domenech.
“What I should have said at the end of the message was that I did not support this action.
“With the FFF president and staff members we tried to convince them it was stupid. I disagreed with the document. What they were doing was unthinkable.
“We’ve wasted a lot of energy. There are no words to explain what has happened. I’m hoping we will now have action on the pitch rather than off it.”
“It was almost hallucinatory. This is a psychodrama that will go down in the history of the World Cup. The French team has been reduced to ashes.” stated French newspaper Le Figaro.
Should France play their final match Victor Chandler, BetFred and bet365 give them 11/8 odds of beating hosts South Africa.