Sports

Struggles within French football squad
by Zuzana Zelenakova

There has been a lot of tension lately within the French football squad and it is not likely for the players to handle the World Cup with ease. After the team managed to get to the final in Germany four years ago the expectations are high. In addition, players are not very happy with the decision of their coach Raymond Domenech to keep Thierry Henry out of the game in Group A match against Uruguay. Henry, who is one of France´s football heroes has been falling back lately and it seems that this is what influenced Domenech´s decision. However, senior members of the French squad are convinced that Henry deserves to be in the starting line-up against Uruguay, as wel! l as Abou Diaby. The coach´s picks are Yoan Gourcuff and Sidney Govou. Reportedly, the tension within the team is so high that players even refuse to pass to one another. It was suggested that during recent friendly match with Costa Rica Nicolas Anelka refused to pass to Gourcuff. Similar scenario occurred also during the match with China and the man who was supposed to be reluctant to give up the ball was Franck Ribery. Both Ribery and Anelka are believed to be among those who lobbied for Henry. In public Bacary Sagna and Florent Melouda shared their concerns over the team´s situation and expressed how important unity among the players is right now. "You have to be interested in your team-mates," said Chelsea star Melouda. "You cannot think: 'I'm an attacker, so I only attack.' We are going to look ridiculous if we repeat what we did in Euro 2008 with each player staying in his comfort zone, interested only in good marks from the media." "The coach has to make hi! s decisions and everyone has to accept it. We can maybe give h! im some advice but, even if we were to offer it, I don't think he would listen,“ said Sagna playing for Arsenal.

related story (sgx17548): http://www.france24.com/en/20100609-french-coach-lineup-thie...

by Zuzana Zelenakova for Cantell TV (http://cantell.tv)

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posted by Blog TechSource @ 3:49 PM