Gallas' silence reopens old wounds
Source: Agencies |
June 9, 2010, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
FRANCE'S difficult relationship with the media returned under the spotlight yesterday when William Gallas said he would refuse to speak to the press during the World Cup.
Center back Gallas was scheduled to appear before the media alongside goalkeeper Hugo Lloris at France's base in Knysna, Western Cape, yesterday but only Lloris turned up.
"William has decided not to speak to the media for the duration of the World Cup finals," a team spokesman said without elaborating. Under FIFA rules, teams are obliged to make only one player available to media each day, he added.
The France team has been under heavy fire from its media for years and both the players and coach Raymond Domenech have been persistently criticized for the way they communicate.
When Domenech was left in charge after his side's Euro 2008 flop, French Football Federation president Jean-Pierre Escalettes said both the coach and the players should make an effort with the press. The players, Escalettes then told a news conference, would need to speak to the media or face sanctions.
French media have suggested Gallas was upset about the fact that the new team captain was fellow defender Patrice Evra, and not himself. France Football magazine also reported that the Arsenal player had received an offer from Greek side Panathinaikos.
The fact that he did not want to discuss that news could also partly explain Gallas' decision.
Domenech's team looks rudderless in comparison to 2006 when it united behind Zinedine Zidane's inspired leadership to reach the final. Former captain Thierry Henry is on the bench.
There is mounting expectation that the current crop of players is bound to flop, and winger Sidney Govou says that France will only improve by pulling together quickly.
"We're lacking this little something for us to be a good team, a very good team," Govou said on Monday. "This won't happen if we shoot each other down, putting the blame on such and such."
Former France defender Marcel Desailly is predicting the worst for Les Bleus.
In his newspaper column for a South African daily, he drew bleak and unfavorable comparisons with the team of four years ago. Desailly even predicted Domenech's team would not qualify from the group stage. Mexico and host South Africa are also in Group A.
Center back Gallas was scheduled to appear before the media alongside goalkeeper Hugo Lloris at France's base in Knysna, Western Cape, yesterday but only Lloris turned up.
"William has decided not to speak to the media for the duration of the World Cup finals," a team spokesman said without elaborating. Under FIFA rules, teams are obliged to make only one player available to media each day, he added.
The France team has been under heavy fire from its media for years and both the players and coach Raymond Domenech have been persistently criticized for the way they communicate.
When Domenech was left in charge after his side's Euro 2008 flop, French Football Federation president Jean-Pierre Escalettes said both the coach and the players should make an effort with the press. The players, Escalettes then told a news conference, would need to speak to the media or face sanctions.
French media have suggested Gallas was upset about the fact that the new team captain was fellow defender Patrice Evra, and not himself. France Football magazine also reported that the Arsenal player had received an offer from Greek side Panathinaikos.
The fact that he did not want to discuss that news could also partly explain Gallas' decision.
Domenech's team looks rudderless in comparison to 2006 when it united behind Zinedine Zidane's inspired leadership to reach the final. Former captain Thierry Henry is on the bench.
There is mounting expectation that the current crop of players is bound to flop, and winger Sidney Govou says that France will only improve by pulling together quickly.
"We're lacking this little something for us to be a good team, a very good team," Govou said on Monday. "This won't happen if we shoot each other down, putting the blame on such and such."
Former France defender Marcel Desailly is predicting the worst for Les Bleus.
In his newspaper column for a South African daily, he drew bleak and unfavorable comparisons with the team of four years ago. Desailly even predicted Domenech's team would not qualify from the group stage. Mexico and host South Africa are also in Group A.
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