France hope to spur revival - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

France hope to spur revival

AFP | By, Cape Town
Jun 11, 2010 02:25 AM IST

Former champions France go into their opening World Cup game against Uruguay in Cape Town on Friday battling a salvo of criticism, with nothing but victory enough to satisfy the sceptics. See special

Former champions France go into their opening World Cup game against Uruguay in Cape Town on Friday battling a salvo of criticism, with nothing but victory enough to satisfy the sceptics.

HT Image
HT Image

Raymond Domenech's team have been in underwhelming form, losing 1-0 to China in a warm-up match last week, which followed a 2-1 win over Costa Rica and a 1-1 draw with Tunisia.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Since arriving in South Africa, they have adopted a siege-like mentality at their luxury five-star resort to focus on the job in hand, training mostly behind closed doors.

This has not gone down well with an irate French media, while Sports Minister Rama Yade caused a stir when she said the team should have shown some "decency" during hard economic times by not choosing such swanky accommodation.

Domenech, who is widely disliked in France and will be replaced by former skipper Laurent Blanc after the tournament, has played down his squad's troubled build-up.

"To lose against China in our final build-up game hardly pleases me but at the end of the day it remains a preparation match," he said. "Now we get down to the real thing."

The fact that France are here at all still irks some after Thierry Henry's outrageous handball played such a pivotal role in their play-off victory over Ireland.

If that wasn't enough, the French team was then rocked by a sex scandal linking members of the team, including star player Franck Ribery, to an under-age call-girl. The 1998 champion's consolation is that they are in a relatively easy group that also includes hosts South Africa and Mexico.

With Patrick Vieira failing to make the squad, France's lone 1998 survivor is Henry, although the veteran Barcelona striker is likely to be used as a super-sub. William Gallas and Patrick Evra will lead at the back with Jeremy Toulalan and Abou Diaby shoring up midfield.

The emergence of Yoann Gourcuff, the talent of Ribery and the rejuvenation of Nicolas Anelka have given the coach a variety of options in attack.

This time round expectations at home are not high and Uruguay’s coach Oscar Tabarez is keen to ignore their past. Instead, he wants to focus on getting the best out of a talented and maturing squad, who trounced Switzerland and Israel 3-1 and 4-1 in friendlies.

Unlock a world of Benefits with HT! From insightful newsletters to real-time news alerts and a personalized news feed – it's all here, just a click away! -Login Now! Catch all the Latest WPL Schedule 2024 and Live score along with WPL Points Table, IPL Schedule and WTC related updates on Hindustan Times Website and APPs
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Friday, March 29, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On