SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - France abandon training session in support of striker Nicolas Anelka who was dismissed by coach Raymond Domenech the day before

Record ID: 455882

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - France abandon training session in support of striker Nicolas Anelka who was dismissed by coach Raymond Domenech the day before
  • Date: 21st June 2010
  • Summary: KNYSNA, SOUTH AFRICA (JUNE 20, 2010) (REUTERS) BUS CARRYING FRENCH TEAM ARRIVING AT TRAINING GROUND PUBLIC IN VIEWING STANDS AT GROUND MORE OF BUS ARRIVING LOCAL SOCCER FANS CHANTING AND DANCING AS TEAM ARRIVE COACH RAYMON DOMENECH DISEMBARKING FROM BUS BIRDS ON PITCH TRAINING GROUND WITH PLAYERS APPROACHING IN THE DISTANCE PLAYERS WALKING ACROSS GROUND TO MEET PUBLIC CAPTAIN PATRICE EVRA AND DOMENECH WALKING TOGETHER VARIOUS OF PLAYERS GREETING SCREAMING PUBLIC AND SHAKING HANDS WITH THEM MORE OF PLAYERS MEETING PUBLIC FORWARD THIERRY HENRY HAVING HIS PHOTO TAKEN WITH FANS (SOUNDBITE) (English) KNYSNA RESIDENT FORMALA, SAYING: "What they are doing wrong is that they don't speak, they don't pass the ball to each other. Each players wants to get his goal by himself, he wants to score by himself." PLAYERS STANDING IN GROUP IN FRONT OF PUBLIC HENRY MEETING FANS (SOUNDBITE) (English) KNYSNA RESIDENT WARREN PHILLIPS, SAYING: "They are going to need a players in the team like him [Anelka] because he is a good player." TEAM WALKING OFF PITCH MEMBERS OF TRAINING STAFF COLLECTING CONES MORE OF STAFF ON PITCH AFTER TRAINING SESSION WAS HALTED
  • Embargoed: 6th July 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA247EMYUIXQ3EUZUFB3HQLF8GF
  • Story Text: France players boycotted a training session on Sunday (June 20) in support of Nicolas Anelka, a day after he was kicked out of the World Cup for insulting Raymond Domenech.
    The France coach read out to reporters a statement by the players in which they explained they had decided not to train to protest against the decision to send the striker home.
    The players had allowed the public into their training ground for the first time and signed autographs and took their photos with fans before they walked off the pitch in support of Anelka.
    Anelka was removed after insulting Domenech at halftime of a 2-0 defeat by Mexico on Thursday in Polokwane.
    "What they are doing wrong is that they don't speak, they don't pass the ball to each other. Each players wants to get his goal by himself, he wants to score by himself," commented on local soccer fan who had managed to get in to the ground in the hope of watching France train.
    Another fan said Anelka should not have been dismissed.
    "They are going to need a players in the team like him [Anelka] because he is a good player," said Warren Phillips, another fan after meeting the players.
    Sunday's public session had already been halted after a furious row between captain Patrice Evra and fitness coach Robert Duverne, leading to the immediate resignation of the team director.
    France, facing an early exit, still plan to play their final Group A game against South Africa on Tuesday in Bloemfontein.
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