FIFA 2010 World Cup: Captain Patrice Evra to expose every detail for the poor French performance - FIFA warns French Government on direct involvement with the French team
There was much expectation that after the press conference French Coach Raymond Domenech’s matters will be sorted out, but the already disappointed French fans have yet to face more humiliation as there seem to be conflicts rising from within the team.
Press releases by Domenech, French Football Federation (FFF), Thierry Henry and Patrice Evra have now left the microphone for the person who has to take charge of the ongoing French jeopardy.
The French captain has expressed that he has had talks with the FFF as well as the President and an Inquiry for the poor campaign by France is underway. He told that officials had relayed to him that the Inquiry will be headed by an unbiased person and it will start soon however he did not say who will be leading it.
Upon his arrival back in France Evra relayed that no person will be left out from the inquiry, Evra expressed that the team’s reaction to the incident was wrong and that he personally apologized for his reaction, he expressed, “He also told that the boycotting of the training session was wrong and imprudent. He sadly told, “We regretted the impact it had. But we were in such a state that sometimes, for love, you can do clumsy gestures”.
The Les Bleus arrived back home to no fan support after they acquired just 1 point in the three matches they played. Unfortunately there miseries did not end there as the current situation was led by the refusal of French players to attend the training session; as they boycotted the coach’s decision to send back the French team’s forward, Nicolas Anelka. The Bleus skipper had it even worse as he nearly engaged in a fist fight with the in the fitness trainer while arguing with Coach Domenech. Anelka was sent home after he used abusive words against the Coach in South Africa during a match. The result was Anelka sent back home which was vetoed by the French players. The FFF took severe notice of that and tried to support Domenech.
The episode had such vast repercussions that the French President Nicolas Sarkozy got involved in the damage control process and demanded a report with direct power to intervene in the matter. While the matter became an issue of international humiliation for France, Sarkozy called upon Thierry Henry in a private meeting to elucidate what happened.
Media reports and statements by officials have it clear now that the top members of the teams and board won’t be the only ones to be included in the investigation. Now each team member will have to justify his actions to the inquiry committee. Evra stated in reference, “An investigation will be opened by the ministry and all the players will be heard. Each one of us will say what they experienced and will say the truth. Everyone will give some information from each angle and all sides”.
Henry too was extremely demoralized on the incident stating, “I could have been the older brother but I wasn't anymore. I felt isolated, it doesn't matter who by. They didn't talk to me as they used to. Before they talked to me more. But when you don't have credibility in a group any more it becomes difficult”.
The Catalan forward told that there was a depressing absence of unity missing from the team. The star also said that the incident could not be entirely blamed on Evra or Anelka. Disaster too is a step by step process.
Still he admitted that all the decisions made in the team were made as a group so their field performance was a major reason to blame. He further explained that instead of amending the wrong doings in the team everybody was out to protect their ego and make excuses for their mistakes. He expressed that in essence the team truly just was not good enough to play and win.
Henry explained, "When a team wins everything can happen, when there are defeats doubt comes in and stories start getting invented”.
FIFA has just stated that if the French government has more direct involvement in the ongoing process about the inquiry, FIFA will ban France internationally. With that happening statements from players like Florent Malouda are still appearing on media.
The French team would have faced much less heat from their nation if they had managed to win the final match against the South African nation. Their 2-1 defeat proved to be the final nail in the coffin before they were sent back home. Les Bleus went out to win that match and enter into the last 16 stage but their march was halted by South Africa who scored the first two goals after which the French replied with just one.
Now the ball is again in the court of the French government as they plan to take action against the players or abide and reconcile with FIFA.
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