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The most amazing and unprecedented thing in all of this is that mainstream newspaper L'Equipe reported in big character on its frontpage the phrase that striker Anelka told his coach Domenech...without "hints", just as it was (Go f..ck yourself you dirty son of a b!).
Can you imagine the NY TImes or Washington Post carrying that on their frontpage?
Anyway, striker Anelka has been sent back home and expelled from the national team. Also, there has been a fight in the locker room between some French players (apparently some are trying to find the "traitor" who reported Anelka's sentence to the reporters) and a fight between Evra and a journalist.
The most amazing and unprecedented thing in all of this is that mainstream newspaper L'Equipe reported in big character on its frontpage the phrase that striker Anelka told his coach Domenech...without "hints", just as it was (Go f..ck yourself you dirty son of a b!).
Can you imagine the NY TImes or Washington Post carrying that on their frontpage?
Anyway, striker Anelka has been sent back home and expelled from the national team. Also, there has been a fight in the locker room between some French players (apparently some are trying to find the "traitor" who reported Anelka's sentence to the reporters) and a fight between Evra and a journalist.
Doesn't surprise me from L'Equipe. That paper has a lot of influence in France.
There are a couple of different points here. The first is the role of "officials" in football. Put simply, there are too many career officials with a fairly tenuous knowledge of football trying to tell the professionals what to do. In this case, the officials have taken a decision without reference to the coach. And it has happened elsewhere. It happened with Scotland and it happened with Ireland when Roy Keane walked out on the team as a result of officials.
Finally, there is a problem with the French team. To be controversial about it, there are too many Africans and not enough French.
This is so bad I expect Sarkozy to make a public statement. This is a national embarassment for them.
First off Domenech should have been dumped long ago, right after the French flamed out at Euro 2008. At a press conference after, he used that moment to propose to his girlfriend (???). The guy is beyond suspect.
Then there is Patrice Evra the new captain... his comments after the Anelka incident just fanned the flames for the breakdown. Not what you need from a captain.
In France football fans are so ashamed by this team and football haters are delighted by all this drama.
First Act : At least 3 players are convinced in a prostitution case with an underage girl (16). She also says that she was "offered" to Ribery by other players for his birthday. This girl Zahia take interviews and is frontpage to a famous magazine.
The french secretary of Sports then is outraged by the luxury hotel of the team in South africa. She is being booed not supporting the French team with fruitless debates. She end up taking an hotel room even more expensive.
Second Act : After the defeat against Mexico everything is falling appart :
- Anelka insulted the coach Domenech and thus is being sent back to France
- The captain Evra wants to find the "traitor" who revealed that to the press and "eliminate" him
- Ribery and Gourkouff have a fight : Ribery is then suspected to be a real bully especially against Gourkouff
- Evra and the physical coach have a fight, the latter throws his whistle out of anger
- The players announce they don't want to train because they are angry with the loss of Anelka, they reckon they have responsabilities though. Domenech read their tract! He is then not allowed to take the player's bus to come back to their hotel. The press says : 'The players have taken control'. A director from the FFF resigns out of disgust.
- Nicolas Sarkozy says this is unacceptable but reckons it is not his role to judge that, French minister of sport is coming today to have a meeting with Evra Domenech and Escalettes to arrange these problems.
- Irish people are laughing, South African people feel victory for tomorrow
A fine example of Karma working it's wonders if you ask me.
yup ! agree
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