Tensions brewing in France squad
Source: AFP |
June 22, 2012, Friday
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Print Edition
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HATEM Ben Arfa was so angry at being substituted in France's 0-2 defeat to Sweden in its final Euro 2012 Group D match that he told coach Laurent Blanc that he could send him home if he wanted.
The attacking Newcastle midfielder believed he was unfairly singled out in the match, L'Equipe reported yesterday.
The sports daily added that Blanc was angry at the 25-year-old for talking on the phone when the team was heading for a debriefing after the match.
"Hatem you don't need to be ringing your family in here!" Blanc told the player.
Ben Arfa, who has had problems in the past with other coaches, replied that he should not have been taken off as there were several other players "who were worse" than him.
That prompted an angry intervention by Samir Nasri, the newspaper said, adding that Ben Arfa told Blanc that he could send him home if he wanted to.
Nasri, who himself courted controversy by shouting "shut your face" at a L'Equipe journalist in an earlier match, also had words with Alou Diarra. Nasri took exception to Diarra's remark that the performances of several players had been so bad that it was "not normal".
Florent Malouda said the situation reminded him of the 2010 World Cup when Nicolas Anelka was sent home in disgrace for a foul-mouthed rant at coach Raymond Domenech, prompting a players' strike at a training session. "What I saw awakened some demons in me," said the veteran Malouda.
France qualified second behind England in the group and will play Spain in the quarterfinals.
Blanc admitted on Wednesday that words were exchanged by his players, but played down the significance of the incident.
"When there's a victory, you accept things more and you're happier," Blanc said. "When you've lost, you're more hot-blooded. It got heated, but we all cooled down after a good shower.
"It kicked off a bit because all the players felt that everyone hadn't given everything. They have to say things between each other, because it can be constructive. It shows that there's a reaction, and a bit of electricity. I hope that there will be some against Spain, but in the right sense."
The attacking Newcastle midfielder believed he was unfairly singled out in the match, L'Equipe reported yesterday.
The sports daily added that Blanc was angry at the 25-year-old for talking on the phone when the team was heading for a debriefing after the match.
"Hatem you don't need to be ringing your family in here!" Blanc told the player.
Ben Arfa, who has had problems in the past with other coaches, replied that he should not have been taken off as there were several other players "who were worse" than him.
That prompted an angry intervention by Samir Nasri, the newspaper said, adding that Ben Arfa told Blanc that he could send him home if he wanted to.
Nasri, who himself courted controversy by shouting "shut your face" at a L'Equipe journalist in an earlier match, also had words with Alou Diarra. Nasri took exception to Diarra's remark that the performances of several players had been so bad that it was "not normal".
Florent Malouda said the situation reminded him of the 2010 World Cup when Nicolas Anelka was sent home in disgrace for a foul-mouthed rant at coach Raymond Domenech, prompting a players' strike at a training session. "What I saw awakened some demons in me," said the veteran Malouda.
France qualified second behind England in the group and will play Spain in the quarterfinals.
Blanc admitted on Wednesday that words were exchanged by his players, but played down the significance of the incident.
"When there's a victory, you accept things more and you're happier," Blanc said. "When you've lost, you're more hot-blooded. It got heated, but we all cooled down after a good shower.
"It kicked off a bit because all the players felt that everyone hadn't given everything. They have to say things between each other, because it can be constructive. It shows that there's a reaction, and a bit of electricity. I hope that there will be some against Spain, but in the right sense."
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