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France kick Anelka out of World Cup

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-06-21 10:07

France's national soccer team coach Raymond Domenech reads a statement from his players after the squad refused to take part in a training session in Knysna, near Cape Town June 20, 2010. [Agencies]

A clearly uncomfortable Evra told a tense news conference: "The team's problem is not Anelka but the traitor in our ranks. We have to eliminate this traitor from the squad.

"This comes from someone in the squad who wants to hurt the France team," the Manchester United defender said.

Anelka's tirade came after Domenech told Anelka to stop straying out of position against Mexico after a first half when France barely threatened the Mexican goal, L'Equipe reported.

When Anelka took issue with the criticism, Domenech threatened to substitute him, prompting the player to make his foul-mouthed outburst, the newspaper said.

Domenech replaced Anelka with Andre-Pierre Gignac for the second half of the match but Mexico secured victory with two second-half goals, leaving the finalists from four years ago staring elimination in the face.

If their Group A rivals Uruguay and Mexico draw their final group match on Tuesday, France will fail to qualify for the last 16 regardless of their own result against host nation South Africa.

The French training camp has reportedly been riven with disputes between Domenech and his players since they arrived in South Africa.

agence france-presse