Les Misérables

It wouldn't be a World Cup without the confirmation of a few international stereotypes. Yes, the French team (if you can believe it) is bringing the drama. Day after day French football sinks further into crisis and offers a pathetic view of themselves to the world. I thought we'd seen and experienced it all with Les Bleus. Just when you thought you'd seen it all, read it all, understood it all, Les Bleus spring more surprises on us. Unworthy, lacking in communication and the exclusion of Nicolas Anelka accused of insulting the coach. However, there was worse to come as the other day afternoon, in front of 350 supporters and the world's media, French players refused to train. Their motive? They're opposing the exclusion of Anelka and holding the FFF responsible. This time we're really scraping the barrel. The morning after Les Bleus' training session coup, the French press have not held back in voicing their annoyance with what they have called 'the ultimate humiliation.' Through the national team and its coach, the very image of French football has been sullied in the eyes of the world. The team returned to training this morning, but the series of conflicts - which amounted to a high-profile meltdown in the spotlight of one of the world’s most fervently followed sporting events - has left a country for which football is often a source of national pride reeling in disgust and humiliation.
The blue boat is now worthless. There is no leader on board and things are out of control with speculation suggesting every effort is being made to ensure Nicolas Anelka is reinstated before the side face the hosts tomorrow. But, this circus needs to stop, South Africa and the World Cup does not deserve such an insult. Players, coaches, directors – they're all responsible for this regrettable fiasco. A rebellion? No, a caprice. A strike? No, cowardices. Don't deceive yourself. The republican solidarity that the players showed the world the other day was an illusion. Clearly nothing can be expected of Les Bleus. Their achievements are shameful: France is the laughing stock of the world
While the French players talk to the press about traitors, yesterday in Knysna we found 22 of them. Even French President Nicolas Sarkozy asked his sports minister, Roselyne Bachelot, to prolong her stay in South Africa to try and calm the situation before Tuesday’s final Group A game against South Africa. France - which made it to the final in 2006’s World Cup, but lost to Italy - is unlikely to qualify for the second round of the tournament this time. Bachelot told French news media that she and the president were calling for “dignity and responsibility,” and warned that “disciplinary action” could follow.
Economy Minister Christine Lagarde, formerly a member of the national synchronized swimming team, slammed the boycott, telling a French TV channel: “I am appalled because I have worn the French national colors, and when you wear the French national colors, you have added responsibilities”. Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner added his voice to the chorus of politicians expressing dismay at the team’s behavior, calling it “an appalling soap opera” and “a caricature of France”. Also speaking out were some of France’s former soccer greats. Emmanuel Petit (who scored in France’s 1998 World Cup final win over Brazil) denounced the team’s actions as “intolerable”, and Alain Giresse told the same French TV station, “It’s sad, it’s shameful, it’s pathetic”.
As one of French National Team haters, I was truly blessed with the team crisis. Hey, what else should I say? Am a true hater! So, thank you Les Bleus for the wonderful image you have presented the world with since arriving in South Africa. Bless you for all the happiness you have provided for me. The mutiny of Knysna will always be remembered as the Waterloo of French football. And yeah, shame on them. Shame on these players who have no idea about the realities of life's difficulties and who can strike at a World Cup - a global event which they qualified for thanks to Thierry Henry's cheating.
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