Just shows the frustration within this team
KNYSNA, South Africa -- A French Football Federation official says striker Nicolas Anelka has been thrown off the nation's world cup squad after reportedly insulting coach Raymond Domenech.
Federation vice president Noel Le Graet told France's RTL radio that the decision was made on Saturday.
Le Graet says "the decision has just been taken ... It's shocking, because if anyone has protected Anelka, it's Domenech."
The Chelsea striker reportedly made obscene comments to Domenech at halftime during France's 2-0 loss to Mexico on Thursday.
Anelka was not at France's training session Saturday, hours after reports of his tirade at Domenech exposed mounting tension within the French World Cup squad.
France's team page
For more about Les Bleus and their chances in South Africa this summer, click here.
French sports daily L'Equipe reported that Anelka insulted Domenech when the coach offered him some tactical advice.
L'Equipe said Domenech was upset after being insulted by Anelka, who was then replaced by Andre-Pierre Gignac.
French sports minister Roselyne Bachelot says the "huge pressure" on the French players because of the team's poor results is not an excuse for poor behavior.
"The players must keep in mind that they are wearing France's colors and are considered to be role models by many youngsters," Bachelot said in a statement. "This obliges them to show restraint and dignity."
Anelka was snubbed by Domenech four years ago when he did not make the World Cup squad, even when striker Djibril Cisse was injured on the eve of the team's departure to Germany. Domenech took Sidney Govou instead in 2006.
But Anelka was a starter in all the warmup matches before this World Cup, and he also started France's opening match, which finished 0-0 against Uruguay.
The latest reports of a rift follow newspaper allegations that midfielder Yoann Gourcuff is an unpopular figure on the squad and that defender William Gallas is upset with Domenech for giving the captain's armband to Patrice Evra.
Only a handful of French players spoke to the media after the Mexico defeat left France staring at elimination four years after losing to Italy in the World Cup final.
France needs to beat South Africa convincingly Tuesday, and hope Mexico and Uruguay don't draw their final game, to have any chance of qualifying for the second round.
"We deserve the criticism," France midfielder Jeremy Toulalan said Friday. "Despite what was said, I think there were a lot of supporters who had hope. We owe it to ourselves to fight for these people."
Gallas is refusing to speak to reporters for the duration of the competition, while Franck Ribery, Anelka and Thierry Henry -- all mainstays of the team -- have also not spoken so far.
Toulalan, one of only a few players to speak after the Mexico match, fears the team is now a collection of individual talents with no camaraderie whatsoever.
Toulalan added that "everyone has to do their own self-analysis" and that things will only improve if "everyone is honest [with themselves] and understands what they did or did not do."
Toulalan would not talk about squabbles within the squad.
Some reports have alleged that Gourcuff sometimes eats alone at the dinner table, and that Ribery and Anelka do not like him and pressured Domenech to drop him against Mexico.
Gourcuff was replaced by Florent Malouda, and did not play in the match.
In the opening game against Uruguay, Anelka had a clear chance to pass to the unguarded Gourcuff during the first half but chose not to. Gourcuff threw his arms up in the air.
Toulalan, a close friend of Gourcuff, said players should always behave professionally, no matter what their differences.
"We can't all be the best friends in the world," Toulalan said. "But there's no way I'm going to go out on the pitch with the idea that I'm not going to pass to this player or that player."
Gourcuff said after the Mexico defeat he was being made a scapegoat for the team's inability to score goals.
"It has been a collective failure over the two games. Football is hard when you can't play together," Gourcuff said. "Perhaps I have paid the price, I don't know. I've not had any explanations."
Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press
Federation vice president Noel Le Graet told France's RTL radio that the decision was made on Saturday.
Le Graet says "the decision has just been taken ... It's shocking, because if anyone has protected Anelka, it's Domenech."
The Chelsea striker reportedly made obscene comments to Domenech at halftime during France's 2-0 loss to Mexico on Thursday.
Anelka was not at France's training session Saturday, hours after reports of his tirade at Domenech exposed mounting tension within the French World Cup squad.
France's team page
For more about Les Bleus and their chances in South Africa this summer, click here.
French sports daily L'Equipe reported that Anelka insulted Domenech when the coach offered him some tactical advice.
L'Equipe said Domenech was upset after being insulted by Anelka, who was then replaced by Andre-Pierre Gignac.
French sports minister Roselyne Bachelot says the "huge pressure" on the French players because of the team's poor results is not an excuse for poor behavior.
"The players must keep in mind that they are wearing France's colors and are considered to be role models by many youngsters," Bachelot said in a statement. "This obliges them to show restraint and dignity."
Anelka was snubbed by Domenech four years ago when he did not make the World Cup squad, even when striker Djibril Cisse was injured on the eve of the team's departure to Germany. Domenech took Sidney Govou instead in 2006.
But Anelka was a starter in all the warmup matches before this World Cup, and he also started France's opening match, which finished 0-0 against Uruguay.
The latest reports of a rift follow newspaper allegations that midfielder Yoann Gourcuff is an unpopular figure on the squad and that defender William Gallas is upset with Domenech for giving the captain's armband to Patrice Evra.
Only a handful of French players spoke to the media after the Mexico defeat left France staring at elimination four years after losing to Italy in the World Cup final.
France needs to beat South Africa convincingly Tuesday, and hope Mexico and Uruguay don't draw their final game, to have any chance of qualifying for the second round.
"We deserve the criticism," France midfielder Jeremy Toulalan said Friday. "Despite what was said, I think there were a lot of supporters who had hope. We owe it to ourselves to fight for these people."
Gallas is refusing to speak to reporters for the duration of the competition, while Franck Ribery, Anelka and Thierry Henry -- all mainstays of the team -- have also not spoken so far.
Toulalan, one of only a few players to speak after the Mexico match, fears the team is now a collection of individual talents with no camaraderie whatsoever.
Toulalan added that "everyone has to do their own self-analysis" and that things will only improve if "everyone is honest [with themselves] and understands what they did or did not do."
Toulalan would not talk about squabbles within the squad.
Some reports have alleged that Gourcuff sometimes eats alone at the dinner table, and that Ribery and Anelka do not like him and pressured Domenech to drop him against Mexico.
Gourcuff was replaced by Florent Malouda, and did not play in the match.
In the opening game against Uruguay, Anelka had a clear chance to pass to the unguarded Gourcuff during the first half but chose not to. Gourcuff threw his arms up in the air.
Toulalan, a close friend of Gourcuff, said players should always behave professionally, no matter what their differences.
"We can't all be the best friends in the world," Toulalan said. "But there's no way I'm going to go out on the pitch with the idea that I'm not going to pass to this player or that player."
Gourcuff said after the Mexico defeat he was being made a scapegoat for the team's inability to score goals.
"It has been a collective failure over the two games. Football is hard when you can't play together," Gourcuff said. "Perhaps I have paid the price, I don't know. I've not had any explanations."
Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press
