11/21/24
June 20, 2010
France's Team Refuses to Practice at World Cup: A day after striker Nicolas Anelka was sent home for calling Coach Raymond Domenech a "dirty son of a whore," the World Cup squad for France has fallen further into disarray. The team refused to practice after a dispute on the field Sunday and an official has resigned in disgust. The second-place finishers in the 2006 Cup need a win against South Africa and some help to get out of the group stage.
To steal a line I read somewhere else: The French team visited an orphanage in Cape Town today. "It was sad seeing their little faces, devoid of all hope," said Ndake, age 6.
(The line was actually about the English team, but it fits the French pretty well, too.)
Interesting to see five of the top European teams (Spain, Germany, England, France and Italy) all having trouble so far. Only the Netherlands seems to be moving along without a hitch. Meanwhile, there is a very distinct possibility that all 5 South American teams could win their groups.
posted by TheQatarian at 04:06 PM on June 20, 2010
It was quite comical seeing Domenech read out the players statement. His heart didn't seem to be in it.
posted by Fat Buddha at 04:59 PM on June 20, 2010
And you thought the English had problems!
Given that the England camp now appears to have John Terry dictating which terms the players will deign to take the field under, I'm not sure they're much better off.
As someone who doesn't really follow football, I find this all quite baffling. If a bunch of All Blacks refused to take the field, well, there are plenty more rugby players who would be happy to step up for a shot at the national side.
posted by rodgerd at 06:05 PM on June 20, 2010
Well hey, maybe this will help the South African team save face a little and pull out a win in what I assume will be their last match of the World Cup.
posted by bender at 09:59 AM on June 21, 2010
Nicolas Anelka was sent home for calling Coach Raymond Domenech a "dirty son of a whore"
Not a bad thing to be in France, because as Mark Twain observed: "France has neither winter nor summer nor morals. Apart from these drawbacks it is a fine country. France has usually been governed by prostitutes."
posted by mjkredliner at 10:37 AM on June 21, 2010
Isn't that what that scumbag Materazzi called Zidane in the 2006 Final?
posted by StarFucker at 10:47 AM on June 21, 2010
So Anelka's lucky that Domenech didn't head butt him then?
posted by kokaku at 02:53 PM on June 21, 2010
Any guy who called me a "dirty son of a whore" would be eating his food through a straw for two weeks. After he woke up.
Can't understand why Domenech didn't at least head butt him. But maybe getting kicked off the team during the World Cup series is worse than getting the shit beaten out of you. Fans might be gunning for him, especially if they get knocked out of the running.
posted by irunfromclones at 05:23 PM on June 21, 2010
Just because you bathe we should be impressed?
posted by yerfatma at 06:18 PM on June 21, 2010
Just because you bathe we should be impressed?
Just because you were seated in the second row of the church when your parents got married doesn't give you the right to impugn others about their washing habits.
posted by irunfromclones at 04:06 AM on June 22, 2010
And you thought the English had problems!