Search Results: fifa-news

• France team in ruins; Henry, Sarkozy to meet

  Jun 23, 2010 by smg / 105 Views

  KNYSNA, South Africa -- France winger Florent Malouda apologized to his nation and its fans after the team's disastrous World Cup, saying that restoring its battered reputation is now the priority.

  Coach Raymond Domenech and his players were expected to return home Wednesday to a hostile reception from a nation shocked by their behavior during the tournament.

  Striker Nicolas Anelka was sent home after verbally abusing Domenech, causing the rest of the players to refuse to practice two days before France's 2-1 upset loss to South Africa that left the team in last place in Group A.

  "It's a complete disaster that we chose to express ourselves like this," Malouda said. "We honestly didn't know it would affect people so much. We could not imagine what would come after that. We're really sorry for the French population and the French fans. That's not what we want to show.

  "The image we have shown to the world, the way they see France right now is a disaster. As players, we are the first responsible for that. Before the World Cup we had great expectations, and we are leaving without winning a single game."

  France striker Thierry Henry will meet President Nicolas Sarkozy on Thursday to discuss the debacle. On Wednesday, Sarkozy met with Prime Minister Francois Fillon and Sports Minister Roselyne Bachelot to talk about it.

  "The head of state asked the ministers to ensure that those responsible learn the lessons of this disaster quickly," Sarkozy's press department said. "He also asked the ministers to ensure that no financial reward is given."

  France defender Patrice Evra said Tuesday that all the players had agreed to forfeit their bonuses.

  Opinion among the players seems to point to Domenech, a lame duck before the tournament, as the main culprit for the failure.

  "There is a cause for all this failure, several things will come out," said Evra, who was stripped of the captaincy by Domenech. "Then, if people don't want to forgive, at least they will know the truth."

  Whether it was Domenech's failure to manage the team well, the attitude of Evra and other players or an interfering French soccer federation, the answers promise to be more entertaining than the team's performances.

  "The End of a world," read the dramatic headline on the front page of sports daily L'Equipe on Wednesday.

  Not only did France go out in the group stage for the second consecutive major tournament without a single win, but Domenech's handling of the squad and the extraordinary player strike created a media tempest.

  Last Sunday, the team refused to train over the FFF's decision to expel Anelka from the team after details of his expletive-filled rant were printed in L'Equipe. Anelka had insulted Domenech at halftime of France's 2-0 loss to Mexico.

  The extraordinary scenes from France's practice field, as Domenech broke up an altercation between Evra and a fitness coach, were beamed live back to the nation. One FFF official stormed off, shouting "I'm ashamed" before resigning on the spot. Domenech was left alone to explain why his players were not training and sitting on a bus.

  Malouda was the only France player to score at the World Cup. When the final whistle blew after the South Africa loss Tuesday, the enormity of the embarrassing exit hit him hard.

  "I have never been a boxer, but it's just like you get knocked out," he said. "When you see the atmosphere in the stadium, you wanted to stay in the competition but we know we don't deserve it. What can we do? Go home. We deserve it."

  Many observers, including former France stars like Zinedine Zidane and Bixente Lizarazu, blamed Domenech for letting the situation spiral out of control and the FFF for retaining him after the team failed to make it out of the group stage at Euro 2008.

  Domenech ended his six-year tenure without a trophy and in contentious style, refusing to shake the hand of South Africa's coach.

  Laurent Blanc, a World Cup winner in 1998, will take over and Domenech wished his successor well.

  "I've had six exceptional years, in both ways," Domenech said. "I wish Laurent all the happiness possible. I hope the France team succeeds."

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• Gonzalez header ends Switzerland's Cup-record streak of not conceding a goal

  Jun 21, 2010 by smg / 130 Views

  PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa -- Chile broke through the formerly impenetrable Swiss defense when substitute Mark Gonzalez scored on a header in the 75th minute Monday, and Chile beat 10-man Switzerland 1-0 to move closer to a spot in the final 16.

  Before Chile scored, Switzerland set a World Cup record in the 69th minute by going 551 minutes without allowing a goal, breaking the mark of 550 held by Italy at the 1986 and 1990 tournaments. Chile has won both its games in Group H.

  "This is for my family and for all the people who have supported us in Chile," Gonzalez said. "This was a great moment for me and for our team."

  Gonzalez headed home a pass from fellow sub Esteban Paredes, who had gotten around the staunch Swiss defense and crossed to Gonzalez at the back post. Gonzalez's downward header beat goalkeeper Diego Benaglio.

  "We are in a good position, and we have one more game to prove ourselves even more," Gonzalez said of Friday's match against Spain at Pretoria.

  
  

  
  Game Notes

  • Chile is now one of four teams -- three of them South American -- with six points in the tournament.

  • Chile's goal ended Switzerland's World Cup-record shutout streak at 559 minutes, going back to 2006.

  • Switzerland completed only 55.6 percent of its passes, the worst success rate of any team since 1966. The Schweizer Nati also completed the fewest number of passes, 114, of any team in that time.

  • Chile finished with 32 touches in the opponent's box, to Switzerland's eight.

  
  

  Switzerland played a man down since the 31st minute when midfielderValon Behrami was sent off with a straight red card for rough play against Arturo Vidal. That ejection irked the Swiss.

  "For me, it was just an unbelievable decision," Behrami said. "There was small contact with my hands on his neck, and he went down like [he was hit with] an elbow. Everyone can make a mistake, but this mistake was very, very big for me because it's a dream to play in a World Cup."

  Vidal admitted he was surprised by the red card.

  "I felt his elbow on my neck," Vidal said. "It was a definite yellow card, but I wasn't expecting a send-off."

  The last goal the Swiss allowed came on July 2, 1994, when they were eliminated 3-0 by Spain in the second round. Aitor Begiristain scored from a penalty kick in the 87th minute 16 years ago.

  Swiss sub Eren Derdiyok nearly equalized in the 90th minute but drove his shot wide from in front of the net as Switzerland put on late pressure.

  Chile had all the first-half pressure even before Behrami's ejection for hitting two Chileans in the face within seconds.

  Alexis Sanchez appeared to give Chile the lead in the 49th minute, but was clearly offside. He nearly scored in the 55th minute on a break but was thwarted from the right side by Benaglio.

  Chile included striker Humberto Suazo in its starting lineup, while Steve von Bergen replaced injured defender Philippe Senderos for Switzerland. Senderos, who has an injured his right ankle, will also miss Switzerland's final match.

  Suazo was replaced by Jorge Valdivia to start the second half.

  "Suazo played the first half-hour where the space was very small and the ball rarely hit the area he was playing, hardly any possibility to move forward," Bielsa said. "It was very difficult for him to lead the attack in this kind of situation."

  Chile's Carlos Carmona received one of nine yellow cards handed out by Saudi Arabian referee Khalil Al Ghamdi. It was Carmona's second of the tournament, and he will miss Chile's match against Spain.

  The game started in a sea of red -- Chilean and Swiss fans in their predominant colors, and many empty seats, which are mostly red at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. Costumes included a woman dressed in a full-length cow outfit and dozens of Chilean flags. Read more »