Media maul pathetic Les Bleus
Source: Agencies |
June 19, 2010, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
"THE Impostors", "Disgraceful", "Pathetic" were among the headlines in the French media yesterday after Les Bleus 0-2 drubbing by Mexico on Thursday.
"France woke up looking at a field of ruins -- the national team -- with a lump in their throat, a few tears in their eyes, but Les Bleus don't deserve it," wrote Fabrice Jouhaud, editor-in-chief of sports daily L'Equipe. "No sadness, no grief, above all no anger ... You can only laugh at the fact that those players are big in the head and not so big below the belt," he added.
L'Equipe lamented that "the only thing left of a big dream and of a former great soccer country is the emptiness ... of a goalless first round ... the feeling of a total wreck, in game and spirit."
The other newspapers were equally critical. "It was Waterloo in the Limpopo," wrote the conservative Le Figaro.
France Soir claimed that "Les Bleus shamed France" and added: "If all the rumors buzzing around them are confirmed they will deserve the title of worst internationals in the history of France soccer, maybe not as players but surely as men."
Le Monde drew a parallel between "les Bleus vanquished, humiliated, pilloried" and 2010 France.
"Their (Les Bleus) lack of leadership, strategy, team spirit ... all these spoiled talents, these unused resources form the cruel metaphor of a country that is often struggling to gather together, overcome glumness and division, and mobilize its strength," the paper said in an editorial.
First victory
It was also Mexico's first victory over France. Substitute forward Javier Hernandez beat the offside trap, raced into the box unchallenged and twisted his way past France keeper Hugo Lloris to put Mexico ahead on 64th minute. Wily forward Cuauhtemoc Blanco, 37, doubled the advantage from the spot on the 79th after Pablo Barrera was brought down by Eric Abidal.
"We feel like a small footballing nation and it hurts," captain Patrice Evra said. "There's nothing to say other than it's a catastrophe."
To make matters worse, the early exit now looming large would be the second in a row for France at a major tournament after its Euro 2008 flop.
"I really thought we had learned the lessons from 2008," Evra said. "I didn't see this defeat coming. I'm dejected."
France's shaky hopes rest on beating South Africa next week and Uruguay losing to Mexico, with the results swinging goal difference its way by enough. L'Equipe said this "minute hope" doesn't even matter. "Let's have no sadness or desolation, and even less anger. That would be giving too much to a team that has nothing to offer."
Mexico coach Javier Aguirre was full of praise for his battling team after what he said had been a tight match.
"Whoever scored first was going to win. The goal made us feel calm," he said. "We always try to be audacious to put the ball in the net. We do run risks."
"France woke up looking at a field of ruins -- the national team -- with a lump in their throat, a few tears in their eyes, but Les Bleus don't deserve it," wrote Fabrice Jouhaud, editor-in-chief of sports daily L'Equipe. "No sadness, no grief, above all no anger ... You can only laugh at the fact that those players are big in the head and not so big below the belt," he added.
L'Equipe lamented that "the only thing left of a big dream and of a former great soccer country is the emptiness ... of a goalless first round ... the feeling of a total wreck, in game and spirit."
The other newspapers were equally critical. "It was Waterloo in the Limpopo," wrote the conservative Le Figaro.
France Soir claimed that "Les Bleus shamed France" and added: "If all the rumors buzzing around them are confirmed they will deserve the title of worst internationals in the history of France soccer, maybe not as players but surely as men."
Le Monde drew a parallel between "les Bleus vanquished, humiliated, pilloried" and 2010 France.
"Their (Les Bleus) lack of leadership, strategy, team spirit ... all these spoiled talents, these unused resources form the cruel metaphor of a country that is often struggling to gather together, overcome glumness and division, and mobilize its strength," the paper said in an editorial.
First victory
It was also Mexico's first victory over France. Substitute forward Javier Hernandez beat the offside trap, raced into the box unchallenged and twisted his way past France keeper Hugo Lloris to put Mexico ahead on 64th minute. Wily forward Cuauhtemoc Blanco, 37, doubled the advantage from the spot on the 79th after Pablo Barrera was brought down by Eric Abidal.
"We feel like a small footballing nation and it hurts," captain Patrice Evra said. "There's nothing to say other than it's a catastrophe."
To make matters worse, the early exit now looming large would be the second in a row for France at a major tournament after its Euro 2008 flop.
"I really thought we had learned the lessons from 2008," Evra said. "I didn't see this defeat coming. I'm dejected."
France's shaky hopes rest on beating South Africa next week and Uruguay losing to Mexico, with the results swinging goal difference its way by enough. L'Equipe said this "minute hope" doesn't even matter. "Let's have no sadness or desolation, and even less anger. That would be giving too much to a team that has nothing to offer."
Mexico coach Javier Aguirre was full of praise for his battling team after what he said had been a tight match.
"Whoever scored first was going to win. The goal made us feel calm," he said. "We always try to be audacious to put the ball in the net. We do run risks."
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
