FIFA World Cup 2010: France return home quietly, Thierry Henry meets President Nicholas Sarkozy to explain teams performance
After the humiliating exit from the 2010 football World Cup team France faced another blow when the national squad was stripped from more than one of their sponsors. World Cup winners in 1998, France failed to reach the second round of 16 and have been eliminated without winning a single game.
The drama began when star player Nicolas Anelka had a dressing row spat with team coach Raymond Domenech at halftime of a 2-nill defeat to Mexico. The French Football Federation sent Anelka packing from South Africa which in return prompted a revolt amongst the players, who refused to train for the next match. The spat also cost France its football director, Jean-Louis Valentin, who walked out of his job after saying he was "ashamed" of the team. These wounds, though, may be minute from what the French Football stands to lose in sponsor revenue. French bank Credit Agricole departed with its support, saying that the bank would be suspending their advertising campaign on insurance products that features the French team.
Meanwhile, another financier a, fast-food company Quick also decided to halt using a television commercial featuring striker Nicolas Anelka. A multinational Proctor and Gamble also said that they were discontinuing a television campaign for its crisp product Pringles that featured the expelled player. The company said, “the campaign was built around the festive nature of soccer, which is no longer evident given the circumstances”.
A bit vague but hope still stands for the men in blue as some of their sponsors left the decision for the future. Mobile company SFR and hyper-mart Carrefou, being investors in the national team haven't spilled out their position on its current crisis, whereas GDF SUEZ, an energy firm, says it will discuss the form of partnership once the World Cup is over. The firms’ affiliation with the French federation is not to expire until 2014. Adidas, which also backs the French side, said it was "appalled and saddened" by France's conduct but will complete its agreement with the players till the end of this year(2010), after which France become Nike's problem.
After all the trouble, reshuffling and poor performance on the pitch Les Bleus have turned into a national embarrassment. Even the manner in which the squad returned to their home country was controversial. The team landed at an airport mainly used for private travel, making the action obvious that the team was trying to escape the disruption that may be caused by direct contact with the public or the media. Confined with heavy security, the players slide out from their chartered jet into an awaiting bus. Meanwhile airport fire engines were parked in a line alongside the plane to avert any mishaps.
Much to their relief or surprise, only a few hundred fans bothered to turn up in order to greet or vent their anger. Meanwhile, Thierry Henry, upon the arrival back to France, had to meet President Nicholas Sarkozy to explain the team’s performance. The Barcelona striker was whisked away straight from the airport to the Presidential Palace. The national hullabaloo from the football loving nation led to the Presidents intervention to take control of the matter and sort out the differences plaguing the team. The 1998 World Cup champions may be at a roadblock at this time of difficulty but surely with time the Les Blues will once again bounce back to their lost glory, definitely with the help of a reshuffling here and there.
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