Nicolas Anelka not at team training after reports of expletive-filled tirade at Domenech

Anelka not training after reports of rift

KNYSNA, South Africa — Nicolas Anelka was not at France’s training session Saturday, hours after reports of his expletive-filled tirade at coach Raymond Domenech exposed mounting tension within the French World Cup squad.

The reported outburst could lead to him being kicked off France’s squad.

French sports daily L’Equipe reported that Anelka insulted Domenech at halftime during France’s 2-0 loss to Mexico on Thursday when the coach offered him some tactical advice.

L’Equipe said Domenech was upset after being insulted by Anelka, who was then replaced by Andre-Pierre Gignac.

French federation vice president Christian Teinturier thinks Anelka should have either apologized or been sent home already.

“If, effectively, the words I’m hearing are true, he shouldn’t be there anymore,” Teinturier said on France Info radio. “If those exact words were said, I can’t understand why he was at training on Friday.

“He should have been thrown out straight away or apologized, otherwise he shouldn’t turn up again wearing a France training top.”

French sports minister Roselyne Bachelot says the “huge pressure” on the French players because of the team’s poor results is not an excuse for poor behavior.

“The players must keep in mind that they are wearing France’s colors and are considered to be role models by many youngsters,” Bachelot said in a statement. “This obliges them to show restraint and dignity.”

Anelka was snubbed by Domenech four years ago when he did not make the World Cup squad, even when striker Djibril Cisse was injured on the eve of the team’s departure to Germany. Domenech took Sidney Govou instead in 2006.

But the Chelsea striker was a starter in all the warmup matches before this World Cup, and he also started France’s opening match, which finished 0-0 against Uruguay.

The latest reports of a rift follow newspaper allegations that midfielder Yoann Gourcuff is an unpopular figure on the squad and that defender William Gallas is upset with Domenech for giving the captain’s armband to Patrice Evra.

Calls to the France team’s press officer seeking comment on the reports were not immediately returned.

Only a handful of French players spoke to the media after the Mexico defeat left France staring at elimination four years after losing to Italy in the World Cup final.

France needs to beat South Africa convincingly Tuesday, and hope Mexico and Uruguay don’t draw their final game, to have any chance of qualifying for the second round.

“We deserve the criticism,” France midfielder Jeremy Toulalan said Friday. “Despite what was said, I think there were a lot of supporters who had hope. We owe it to ourselves to fight for these people.”

Gallas is refusing to speak to reporters for the duration of the competition, while Franck Ribery, Anelka and Thierry Henry — all mainstays of the team — have also not spoken so far.

Toulalan, one of only a few players to speak after the Mexico match, fears the team is now a collection of individual talents with no camaraderie whatsoever.

Toulalan added that “everyone has to do their own self-analysis” and that things will only improve if “everyone is honest (with themselves) and understands what they did or did not do.”

Toulalan would not talk about squabbles within the squad.

Some reports have alleged that Gourcuff sometimes eats alone at the dinner table, and that Ribery and Anelka do not like him and pressured Domenech to drop him against Mexico.

Gourcuff was replaced by Florent Malouda, and did not play in the match.

In the opening game against Uruguay, Anelka had a clear chance to pass to the unguarded Gourcuff during the first half but chose not to. Gourcuff threw his arms up in the air.

Toulalan, a close friend of Gourcuff, said players should always behave professionally, no matter what their differences.

“We can’t all be the best friends in the world,” Toulalan said. “But there’s no way I’m going to go out on the pitch with the idea that I’m not going to pass to this player or that player.”

Gourcuff said after the Mexico defeat he was being made a scapegoat for the team’s inability to score goals.

“It has been a collective failure over the two games. Football is hard when you can’t play together,” Gourcuff said. “Perhaps I have paid the price, I don’t know. I’ve not had any explanations.”