Pos.

He knew that to win the World Cup, you can’t have players not in the group, not with the team. "I talked to Raymond Domenech on behalf of the players [after the dressing-room row], including Patrice Evra," he said. "Domenech had said that he had "left open the possibility" for Anelka to apologise but the player was not prepared to do so. Evra later said that Duverne was not to blame.Of his argument with Evra, Duverne said: "Patrice Evra came to tell me that the players were not going to participate in training. You want to win in the team.”Domenech, who has worked as a TV pundit while toying with the idea of getting back into management, took a ton of the blame in 2010 for failing to control the dressing room and for failing to command its respect. France Coach: Raymond Domenech No. The FFF apologise to the country for the unacceptable conduct of the players that are representing our country. Everyone has to do their own self-analysis. In the second leg of the qualification play-off match between France and the Republic of Ireland on 18 November 2009, French captain Thierry Henry, unseen by the referee and other match officials, illegally handled the ball twice in the lead up to the winning goal. As a midfielder, he’d been called “the water carrier”—someone who did the unglamorous, more anonymous dirty work. Whether France forced, cheated, or deserved their way through to the finals of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa will always continue to create neverending debates. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy All Rights Reserved. © 2020 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies.

Nicolas Anelka during the first half of France's 2010 World Cup match against Mexico (Image: AFP via Getty Images) Read More Related Articles.

He said to the players, ‘Remember 2010. And the answer was we have individual players. Harmony and an unselfish division of labor were essential for success.“I have carried a lot of water in my time,” Deschamps would say later. Anelka does not have the right to say such things. "The FFF hit back at the players in a statement that said their actions were "unacceptable". France negotiated a gauntlet of a knockout stage, then finally hit fifth gear during the second half of the final “My greatest source of pride with this group is that they managed to have the right state of mind for such a tournament,” he answered. "I have children and I don't want to be sullied by rumours that I am the traitor." “We have a possibility to play differently,” Domenech said. "All the players without exception want to declare their opposition to the decision taken by the FFF to exclude Nicolas Anelka from the squad," Domenech read. You want to win the game. The Chelsea forward was not at training today and was asked to apologise by French Football Federation president Jean-Pierre Escalettes. It read: "Contrary to what the players said, this sanction [of Anelka] was taken following a long conversation with the person in the presence of the captain. After he refused to apologise to Domenech, the FFF expelled him from the squad.In front of hundreds of fans at what was an open session in Knysna, France's players began by signing autographs. Upon refusing to do so, was asked to leave the squad. "The midfielder Jeremy Toulalan, who is suspended for the South Africa game, hinted that dressing-room disharmony were at the heart of France's problems.But he admits it is time for the players to start delivering after two woeful and goalless performances. It has made a decision [to send Anelka home] without consulting all the players, on the basis of the facts reported by the press. "The decision to exclude him, then, was the right one," Domenech said earlier in the day. The FFF has at no time tried to protect the squad. "If the words we have just heard have been used, he has nothing to do there [at the World Cup]," Teinturier told France Info radio. A place was created within the Soccer City precinct to act as a "kraal" where the ox was slaughtered. Four years later, Zidane was called out of retirement, in a way, as his former team's entire delegation seemed to implode.Speaking over the constant click of camera shutters, Zidane vainly tried to steer the conversation toward South Africa, and the clinic for orphan boys he’d conducted with Radebe.“I had hoped that when we started, I would have a peaceful—a quiet press conference. “We need to find balance—on the field of course—but also a human balance, because that’s so fragile.”Again, talent wasn’t the issue.