Bafana Bafana vs the "lunatic asylum"

21 June 2010, 08:27.- France and South Africa head into their final World Cup group game on Tuesday desperately trying to save national pride, and with only an outside chance of qualifying for the next round.

Neither has won a game yet, and both have the weight of their nations on their shoulders.
South Africa's 3-0 loss to Uruguay in their previous game disappointed home fans and left the team staring at the very real prospect of being the first ever host nation not to get out of the group stages at a World Cup.
As deep as Bafana Bafana's problems are, they are insignificant compared to the strife in the French camp.
A listless draw against Uruguay was followed by defeat by Mexico. Striker Nicolas Anelka was sent home for publicly criticising coach Raymond Domenech, and the squad then went on strike, refusing to train on Sunday in protest.
"I should be in my room relaxing, but it's not at all like that. That's why I'm sad," France captain Patrice Evra said. "You're a top level player and you can't qualify for the second round of a major tournament? It's unacceptable."
Both teams must win to stand a chance of qualifying, while hoping that Mexico and Uruguay do not draw Group A's simultaneous other game.
Victory is perhaps even more paramount for France, whose reputation has been stained by two days of turmoil which exposed huge rifts within the squad.
"There is no authority left in the French team. There's no pilot in the airplane," former France defender Bixente Lizarazu said in a scathing assessment of Domenech on French television.
"We're in a lunatic asylum at the moment, I can't wait to be done with the French team so that we can look ahead to the real World Cup, the one which interests us."
The tension is so unbearable between the players, Domenech, team officials, politicians and media, that only a win can save any face. The squabbling has even brought to the attention of President Nicolas Sarkozy, and could yet continue.
Domenech has to decide whether or not to keep Evra as his captain after he led Sunday's boycott of training, and how to motivate a team which had little confidence in him before the fracas erupted, and none whatsoever now.
The seeds of the French demise were sewn at halftime during the loss to Mexico, when France striker Nicolas Anelka exploded with rage and launched an expletive-filled tirade at Domenech for questioning his performance.
The bust-up was leaked to sports daily L'Equipe, who printed the words on its front page Saturday.
Anelka was sent home against the wishes of the players, who then used Sunday's public training as a platform to protest against Anelka's exclusion - snubbing 200 local fans in the process.
One French Football Federation official was so angry at the protest that he stormed off, telling reporters he was resigning, while Evra led the players into the team bus, drew the curtains and hid his mutineers from the nation's glare.
Evra also had an altercation with Domenech's fitness coach, Robert Duverne, forcing Domenech to intervene. Less than an hour later, Domenech was reading out a script on behalf of the players, explaining their reasons for not training.
"You have to ask Raymond Domenech whether or not he sanctioned this statement," Lizarazu said, questioning whether Domenech has any authority left after the bizarre scenes were beamed to the shocked nation.
Sports Minister Roselyne Bachelot said "the indignation of the French" was enormous back home and that she had spoken to Sarkozy about it to stem the wave of ridicule from engulfing the nation.
Problems on the field are also complex.

France has only scored one goal in the past five games of major tournaments, and must rediscover teir scoring touch without Anelka, and with the national team's record scorer Thierry Henry rusty after sitting on the bench.
"We put ourselves in a catastrophic position after the Mexico game, and now we have lost a teammate," Evra said.
South Africa's team spirit is strong, despite the loss to Uruguay, according to forward Teko Modise.
"For us it's about honour, we really want to do well against France," he said.
The lack of unity within the French ranks could expose them, because "they need to gel, they need to start playing like a team," Modise added.
South Africa will be missing goalkeeper Itumeleg Khune because of the red card he received for tripping Uruguay forward Luis Suarez, giving away a penalty.
Meanwhile, former South Africa coach Ted Dumitru is concerned how an exit would impact on football in the country.
"We need to convince people to stay in football. It has a massive following in the country," Dumitru said. "We must not lose hope. We must not lose interest."
For France, the problems could be much worse. - Sapa-AP
http://www.capetimes.co.za/?fSectionId=&fArticleId=nw20100621081237548C922802

'We are 100% behind Bafana'

A large crowd of Bafana Bafana supporters filled the relatively small Bloemfontein Airport on Sunday night to welcome the South African soccer team in the Free State. Police had to cordon off the home team's bus after singing and cheering fans tried to push for space to get a glimpse of the South African team.
Some of the players waved and greeted members in the public who were singing and blowing their vuvuzelas in support.
"We will be there in our thousands," said Zukile Makubelo, 40, referring to Tuesday's encounter with France at the Free State Stadium.
"You see how Bloemfontein support Bafana Bafana, they will fight," said Kalipa Nkululeko, 47, in support.
The two men do not think it would be easy for Bafana Bafana against France on Tuesday, but was confident that with local support the team would "work hard".
"It's our team, we have a moral obligation to support them," Makubelo said.
Also amongst the crowd, with SA flag blankets, yellow Bafana Bafana T-shirts and vuvuzelas in hand were Nelly Matuka and Anastasia Mogamisi, who believe that Bafana Bafana was on the brink of a miracle on Tuesday.
"We support left, right and centre, they are going to make a miracle and beat France. Yes, we are 100% behind them," said Matuka.
"Bafana Bafana is us."
The crowd, which had gathered since late afternoon, sang songs in support of the home soccer team such as, "we will support you" and "the trouble is over, get on the train" to support the team.
The huge amount of supporters at the airport resulted in a large traffic jam outside the city, which was normally very quiet on a Sunday night. - Sapa
http://www.capetimes.co.za/?fSectionId=&fArticleId=nw20100620205055624C115821

Quand Zidane se prend pour le patron des Bleus

Selon nos informations, le demi-dieu du football français est à l'origine d'une grosse colère de Raymond Domenech quelques heures avant le match perdu contre le Mexique.

On en apprend tous les jours sur les coulisses pour le moins troublées de l’équipe de France. Selon nos informations, une délégation de quatre joueurs est allée mercredi, veille du match contre le Mexique, voir le sélectionneur Raymond Domenech pour obtenir un changement tactique. Les quatre: le capitaine Patrice Evra, Franck Ribéry, Thierry Henry et William Gallas.

Ceux-là réclament donc un changement de système, du 4-2-3-1 (quatre défenseurs, deux milieux défensifs, trois milieux offensifs et un attaquant) au 4-4-2 (quatre défenseurs, quatre milieux et deux attaquants) et deux changement d’hommes: exit Yoann Gourcuff et Sidney Govou, Henry et le Marseillais Mathieu Valbuena intégrant l’équipe. Domenech accepte: il a toujours prôné le dialogue avec ses joueurs depuis le stage de Tignes et y voit un signe de responsabilisation de ses cadres.

Le lendemain, jour du match face au Mexique, il apprend cependant qu’un homme se trouve derrière les quatre émissaires et le changement tactique réclamé. Et pas n’importe quel homme, puisqu’il s’agit, toujours selon nos informations, d’une sorte de demi-dieu à l’échelle du football français: Zinédine Zidane.

Le sélectionneur pète alors un plomb: tout se passe comme si, au fond, Zidane faisait l’équipe à sa place. Quatre ans après une Coupe du monde 2006 où le numéro 10 avait déjà fait la pluie et le beau temps dans l’équipe, ravalant déjà Domenech à un rang de figurant. Dégoûté, il s’assoit sur l’accord et aligne la même équipe que contre l’Uruguay (0-0) lors du match inaugural des Bleus à l’exception de Gourcuff, remplacé par Florent Malouda.

Ce qui ne sauvera pas les Bleus, battus dans la soirée (2-0) par le Mexique et quasi-éliminés du Mondial sud-africain. A part ça, cette histoire en dit long sur une équipe vulnérable, bombardée sans répit depuis l’extérieur par les intérêts – souvent sonnant et trébuchant – des vedettes d’hier.

http://www.liberation.fr/sports/0101642392-quand-zidane-se-prend-pour-le-patron-des-bleus