France is gripped by a single story at the moment - the implosion of les Bleus at the World Cup. Shame, outrage, consternation, outright disbelief, all emotions in the end amount to the same thing - unanimous condemnation of the players' behaviour.
A sporting soap opera without precedent:
Episode 1: half time in the France Mexico match, coach Domenech criticises the performance of striker Anelka. The man known in the past as the Incredible Sulk responds by telling Domenech to "go f**k yourself, you son of a whore". Domenech appears on the pitch for the second half, alone and five minutes before the team returns. Anelka doesn't reappear and France go on to lose the match 2-0.
Episode 2: news of the spat is leaked to the French press. Condemnation of Anelka's obscene outburst is unanimous, and the Féderation française de Football throws him out of the squad.
Episode 3: Jean-Pierre Escalettes, president of the FFF and a bumbling old duffer who bears a striking resemblance to the bumbling old duffers at the English FA, appears at a press conference and contradicts himself several times but ultimately denies that Anelka was only sent home because of the press reaction to the dressing room incident. Alongside him team captain Patrice Evra raises his eyes to the heavens, rubs his face with his hands and does everything but explicitly express his disagreement with the decision. He denounces the source of the dressing room leak as a 'traitor'.
Episode 4: The next day les Bleus refuse to take part in a training session which is open to the public. The players all appear on the pitch wearing trainers but restrict themselves to talking to fans and signing autographs before returning to closet themselves in the team coach. Patrice Evra is filmed having an animated conversation with Domenech when fitness coach Robert Duverne approaches the pair. The confrontation becomes more lively yet, with much finger wagging and gesticulating on the part of Duverne and a sullen response on the part of Evra. Domenech is forced to physically intervene and restrain his colleague, and Duverne finally storms off, flinging away his whistle in disgust as he leaves.
Episode 5: The managing director of the FFF responds to the strike by resigning on the spot. His voice quivering with emotion, he denounces the players' behaviour as unacceptable.
Episode 6: The drama eventually reaches a climax when Domenech emerges from the team bus. He reads out a statement written by the players, which states the obvious and explains that the strike is in protest at Anelka's exclusion from the squad.
Episode 7: Fury and condemnation explodes back home in France. Politicians, commentators, pundits, fans and ex-players alike unite in opposition to the players' attitude, frequently likened to that of spoiled brats. Which, errm, is what they are really...
Episode 8: Domenech appears alone at the pre-match press conference yesterday (normally the team captain is expected to attend as well), and prefaces questions with a rambling commentary explaining that he read out the players' statement but should at the same time have said he completely disagreed with their 'imbecilic behaviour'. He responds to questions about the composition of today's team by hinting that ring-leaders of the revolt may be dropped while other players may refuse to play because they disagreed with the strike.
Episode 9: At the order of Monsieur le Président, Sports Minister Roselyne Bachelot extends her visit to South Africa in order to hold a meeting with players and coaches to tell them what France and the World thinks of them. She appears at a press conference shortly afterwards and, doe-eyed, relates the dressing down she gave the players. Her performance is variously compared to that of super-nanny or a strict mother-superior.
Episode 10: coming at 4pm this afternoon - South Africa vs France. A must win for both teams while hoping that the other game in the group doesn't end in a draw. The French eleven that takes to the pitch is anybody's guess, as is their state of mind. A poll for France Television yesterday resulted in 75% saying they hope France loses, but commentators and ex-players appearing on TV today have all finished by saying the game is a chance for the players to redeem themselves, and mentioning the 'petit espoir' that the team makes it to the next round...
