There’s big news coming out of the France camp today, one day after striker Nicolas Anelka was sent home by coach Raymond Domenech. They’ve refused to train to show their united opposition to the removal of Anelka, and walked off the field following this altercation between captain Patrice Evra and trainer Robert Duverne.
On one hand, the France team has been exceptionally childish this whole tournament. So childish, in fact, that France team director Jean-Louis Valentin has resigned. But on the other hand, a trainer has no business striking out at a player (or rather, slapping out. He’s French after all…).
Just for good measure, here’s the players sitting on the team bus, curtains drawn:
The French bus sits parked outside their abandoned training session, curtains drawn.
What do you think? Domenech is a terrible coach, but did he deserve this kind of mutiny from the players? Can we have Ireland or a whole new French 23 play the next game? Make no mistake, Domenech left enough talented players at home…
[Video courtesy of @OffsideSarah]
[Photo courtesy of @JamesHorncastle]
UPDATE: French Journalist quotes Nicolas Anelka a little too directly live on ESPN:
[Video from The Big Lead]
