French Farce Not Doing Any Favours

Just when France thought that things couldn't get much worse, they did.

The refusal of the squad to train today in support of Nicolas Anelka is another chapter in the book of France manager Raymond Domenech entitled "How To Unsuccessfully Manage Your Country".

Anelka, the main man in this, was sent home from South Africa for apparently personally insulting Domenech in the changing rooms at half time during France's 2-0 defeat to Mexico which left them on the brink of elimination from the World Cup at the first hurdle - reminiscent of the 2002 campaign in Japan & Korea when they didn't win a game.

It was reported in the media that Anelka said to Domenech "Go fuck yourself, you son of a whore" - an unacceptable verbal tirade. It supposedly came about after Domenech criticised Anelka's first half performance of the Mexico game which is something that, as the manager, he is very much entitled to do.

As Group A stands currently, a win for France in their last game against South Africa on Tuesday might not even be enough to see them into the last sixteen if Mexico and Uruguay draw their fixture.

The players have no faith in Domenech and rightly so. During the Mexico game, he was like a rabbit in the headlights as he stood and watched his team pathetically surrender against the Mexicans without trying to influence the game in the form of substitutions. It was clear for all to see that the players have no respect for Domenech and there is a distinct lack of harmony in the France squad.

To send Anelka, a potential match-winner, home is, in my opinion, a poor decision. Surely, as adults, both men can come to a compromise for the good of the national team? But, then again, these are professional sportsmen we are talking about.

Morale will be low in the French camp following yet another civil war, this time it was even captured on camera by French TV. This will not have helped matters and I would argue that it would be best for the French, who were lucky to even make it to the World Cup following the Thierry Henry handball incident, to be knocked out on Tuesday afternoon as it would allow them to get rid of Domenech sooner and start life under Laurent Blanc, who will not be the envy of many managers around the world when he steps into the French hotseat.