France World Cup squad suspended for Norway friendly

[khay 10]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8849972.stm

 

The French Football Federation has suspended all 23 members of France's World Cup squad for their next game.

New France coach Laurent Blanc requested that no member of the squad be selected for a friendly against Norway in Oslo on 11 August.

France failed to win any of their three group games in South Africa and scored one goal.

The campaign was marked by bitter infighting and a one-day training strike by the players.

[sniffer 0]

As if the frogs could really give a rat's arse about missing a friendly. Hardly what you call taking a stance.

[khay 10]

It lets someone feel important.

 

and gives Blanc every chance to try a squad full of fresh faces and kids.

[khay 10]

Gallas getting a new club.

[ewerk 31313]

Nicolas Anelka given 18-match France suspension

 

 

Nicolas Anelka has been banned for 18 matches by the French Football Federation (FFF) over his conduct at this summer's World Cup.

 

Anelka, 31, was sent home from South Africa after a row with coach Raymond Domenech and, in protest, the France squad boycotted a training session.

 

Patrice Evra was captain of the team and has been banned for five matches for his part in the revolt.

 

Franck Ribery has been suspended for three and Jeremy Toulalan for one.

 

Eric Abidal made up the five players who were summoned to the FFF disciplinary hearing on Tuesday and he escaped punishment.

 

The quintet were highlighted as the key players in the embarrassing controversy which surrounded the French team at the World Cup following Anelka's outburst at Domenech during the loss to Mexico saw him banished.

 

Evra and Ribery were summoned for not performing their duties properly as captain and vice-captain, while Toulalan was seen as the perpetrator behind a statement read out by Domenech explaining why the players had refused to train.

 

Abidal's offence was his refusal to play in the final group match against South Africa, which France lost 2-1.

 

France were also beaten 2-0 by Mexico following a goalless draw in their opening fixture against Uruguay as they produced a string of poor performances which saw them exit the competition following the group stages.

 

Anelka did not show up at the disciplinary hearing and his international career now appears to be all but over.

 

Ribery was also an absentee but his club Bayern Munich did not allow him to attend with the Bundesliga starting its season this weekend and the German champions facing Wolfsburg in their opening game on Friday.

 

The pair sent representatives, while Evra, Toulalan and Abidal were present for the lengthy hearing, along with Domenech.

 

Former deputy managing director of the team Jean-Louis Valentin said: "I sensed that the players are truthfully sorry, and been left damaged and mortified at what took place, they were conscious of a collective meltdown.

 

"I believe that now it is imperative we turn the page and move on.

 

"I believe that to a certain extent there has been a very good dialogue in there (at the commission) which lasted a relatively long time.

 

"As a lover of the French team, and as a supporter of the France team, I think that each player has the right to a second chance."

 

Domenech has been replace by Laurent Blanc and he did not select any of the 23-man World Cup squad for his recent first game in charge against Norway, which France lost 2-1.

 

The FFF has also withheld World Cup advertising bonuses which were due to be paid to players.

 

Blanc will now be without the banned players for the team's Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, starting against Belarus in Paris on 3 September.

[ohhh_yeah 2991]

"Who said I wanted to play again in blue?" he said in Wednesday editions of Soir newspaper in France, adding "for me, after the World Cup in South Africa, the French team is now history."

 

Anelka called the suspension a "masquerade to not lose face."

 

"These people are real clowns ... I'm dying of laughter," Anelka said in the article.

[Monroe Transfer 0]

"Who said I wanted to play again in blue?"

 

Chelsea?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'll get my coat.