FRANCE’S REACTION to their humiliating World Cup exit was as confused and divided as their performances, although the players at least agreed on one thing: they have let themselves and their country down badly in South Africa.
Deposed captain Patrice Evra looked full of regret as he asked the nation for forgiveness on French television, but the Manchester United left-back insisted he would wait a few more days before revealing the full details of the infighting that destroyed France’s campaign.
“I have too much respect for the French people’s suffering to spill the beans now,” said Evra, who was dropped last night after leading the training boycott on Sunday. “They deserve to know what went on. I’m not a liar. I’m a man. I’ll tell the truth, but now is not the moment. I’ll give a press conference later this week.”
When Evra was asked about coach Raymond Domenech’s role in the saga, he shifted nervously, visibly eager to speak out, before opting to keep quiet. It will definitely be worth tuning in when the fiery 29-year-old finally gets the issues off his chest.
Until then we are left guessing at what triggered one of the World Cup’s most sensational and humiliating collapses.
Not surprisingly, Nicolas Anelka’s closest allies, Thierry Henry and Franck Ribery, skated past the hordes of French journalists, refusing to give any clues as to why this talented group had performed so abysmally.
Others were more obliging but seemed to be singing from different hymn sheets. While Bacary Sagna insisted there was “nothing to regret” with regards the team’s behaviour, Florent Malouda said the decision to strike as a show of support for Anelka was wrong.
“We’ve closed ourselves off too much and haven’t been aware of the impact our actions have had. Not training might have been a mistake,” he admitted.
Malouda also disagreed with Evra’s claim that there was a traitor in the camp who leaked the details of Anelka’s clash with Domenech. “We’re not looking for a traitor,” he said. “There’s no bad person, no one with bad intentions and no traitor.
“We’ve got ourselves into a situation where we’re incapable of performing. This isn’t a problem that was born at the World Cup – it’s been there for some time. But you can’t accuse one player. Individually we were poor and collectively we were even worse.”
Malouda’s honesty will be appreciated back home, but not everyone will be appeased by words. One French fan approached the glass-walled interview area after the game looking to confront the players, and on realising his route was barred, threw his blue France shirt to the ground and shouted: “I’m ashamed! You are a disgrace to your country!”
Incensed French fans will want heads to roll, starting with that of French federation president Jean-Pierre Escalettes. Having also overseen the woeful Euro 2008 campaign, Escalettes has a dire record and has not been forgiven for offering Domenech an extension two years ago. Yet he insisted he would not be following the example of team director Jean-Louis Valentin by handing in his resignation. “It’s not in my nature to abandon,” Escalettes said. “We must turn the page and look forward. We’ve just poured away 50 years of honour. Now we must get it back.”
One man certain to go is Domenech, who will be replaced by Laurent Blanc after a tumultuous six-year stint that has, paradoxically, seen him become a figure of hate in his homeland as well as the nation’s longest-serving trainer.
It would not have been right for Domenech to sign off without one last farcical press conference. After refusing to shake hands with South Africa coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, Domenech repeatedly said “next question” when quizzed on his reasons for the snub. Later asked about the cause of France’s internal problems, Domenech snapped: “If that’s all you have to ask, then I’ll go. We’re not from the same world.”
He might have a point.
Parreira dismissed Domenech’s behaviour as “lamentable”, preferring to focus on a famous victory in his final game in charge. “We’re disappointed we didn’t qualify but I don’t consider this a failure,” the former Brazil boss said. “My main feeling is pride.”
It could be a long time before France enjoy that feeling again.
