French Soccer in disarray...Vuvuzelas are officially exonerated

So now we know that there is more wrong with the French team than the distraction of the vuvuzelas.

They can still advance, but seem to want to play the role of the diva, the prima donna and the l'enfante terrible, all rolled up into one team personality. Rather than pull together as a team and win these guys would rather lose by wallowing in their own drama. Yeah, these guys are softer than the Maginot Line and they fold up faster than a cheap lawn chair.

HOPEFULLY, THE HOST SOUTH AFRICA TEAM PUNCHES THEIR TICKET OUT OF THE TOURNAMENT ON MONDAY WITH A WIN. NOW THAT WOULD BE POETIC JUSTICE.

FROM ESPN.COM

France director resigns amid disarray

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/5307299/ce/us/france-team-refuses-practice-nicolas-anelka-expulsion?cc=5901&ver=us

France's World Cup team refused to train Sunday in protest of striker Nicolas Anelka's expulsion from the squad, prompted by a profanity-laced tirade against coach Raymond Domenech the day before.

The latest round of turbulence also led to the resignation of France team director Jean-Louis Valentin, who said he was fed up with the team.

"It's a scandal for the French, for the young people here. It's a scandal for the federation and the French team," Valentin said. "They don't want to train. It's unacceptable."

France coach Raymond Domenech explained to the media why his team wasn't training on Sunday.
Before getting in a car and driving off, he added: "As for me, it's over. I'm leaving the federation. I'm sickened and disgusted."

Tensions boiled over after the team arrived at training and got off the bus to greet about 200 fans who had gathered there. Domenech, whose tactics and management skills have been questioned, stayed on the bus to talk to France captain Patrice Evra.

Meanwhile, fitness coach Robert Duverne was on the field putting down training cones. After Domenech and Evra got off the bus, Evra and Duverne started to argue. Domenech tried to intervene, but Duverne then stormed off, throwing his accreditation down the field.

Afterward, Domenech read a statement he said was written by the players to explain their protest:

"The French Football Federation did not at any time try to protect the group. They took a decision uniquely based on facts reported by the press. As a consequence and to show our opposition to the decision taken by officials of the federation, all the players decided not to take part in today's training session."

Evra and the players, en masse, boarded the team bus and drew the curtains.

Domenech said he gave Anelka the chance to apologize for his profanity-laced outburst, and that his refusal to do so justified his expulsion from the French World Cup team.

Anelka was sent home Saturday, hours after revelations of his angry tirade was revealed by sports daily L'Equipe.

Domenech said on the French television show Telefoot on Sunday that "I gave him the chance to come and talk and to say sorry" but that "he didn't want to and that's why I went along" with the French soccer federation's decision to throw Anelka out.

Domenech added it was not "a personal problem between the coach and the player," but "a problem concerning the federation and the image of the French team."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.