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Mexico striker Fonseca denies clash with coach
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-06-01 09:45

NOORDWIJK, Netherlands, May 3- Mexico striker Francisco Fonseca denied on Wednesday that he had fallen out with coach Ricardo La Volpe after being left out of the side in last Saturday's friendly against France.

Fonseca said on Monday that he was sad at starting on the bench and La Volpe, in an interview with the Mexican sports daily Record, described his striker's comments as stupid.

"There hasn't been a problem and there's not going to be one," Fonseca, who has scored 19 goals in 28 internationals, said on Wednesday.

"I'm with the rest of the group...and I'm always with Mexico until the death. This case is finished as far as I'm concerned."

La Volpe began Saturday's game with Jared Borgetti and Argentine-born Guillermo Franco in attack. They were replaced by Omar Bravo and Jesus Arellano respectively in the second half.

Mexico face the Netherlands in a friendly on Thursday and La Volpe has not yet said whether or not Fonseca will start this time.

Fonseca is one of Mexico's most popular players and La Volpe, who has had a difficult relationship with the media, was widely criticised for his reported comments.

"It's unnecessary rudeness for the captain of the ship to adopt such offensive attitudes, of intolerance and lacking intelligence," Alfredo Alvarez, vice-president of Fonseca's club Cruz Azul, said.