France legend Zinedine Zidane has added to Raymond Domenech’s woes by publically stating his disapproval of the national teams exploits thus far in the FIFA World Cup.
Zidane, who infamously got sent off in his last ever appearance on a football pitch in the 2006 World Cup final is highly unimpressed with the severe lack of team spirit and management that is hampering Les Bleus’ World Cup experience. Zidane believes his former coach Domenech, who made him captain prior to the German World Cup, is not up to standard and that there are too many egos within the dressing room.
France opened their World Cup account in Cape Town with an uninspired nil-nil draw with Uruguay which has lead to Zizou’s outburst.
He said:
“The hardest thing is that there is no teamwork.”
“They didn’t play together and it was more a case of individual efforts. The players must take responsibility for themselves, get themselves going. You have to be straight with each other.”
The 1998 World Cup winner who also won three world player of the year awards is adamant that his country are suffering from a clash of egos which is largely down to Domenceh. He believes the 58 year old is only capable of picking the team and nothing else.
“He’s not a coach, he’s a selector. He picked his squad and he has to make them play together.”
“You must put your ego to one side and work together. Teamwork is the most important thing, and that’s not what we saw during the match.”
Zidane who was part of that magnificent side in 1998 and 2000 where they clinched the World and European double is currently in South Africa experiencing the wonderful carnival of football. Since his retirement in 2006 the French national side has suffered immensely with a lack of leadership which has stirred dressing room unrest.
Florent Malouda and William Gallas are just the latest members of the squad to have had tension with the head coach. His popularity in France is very shallow despite guiding them to the World Cup final four years ago which was orchestrated by the magnificent flair and finesse of one Zinedine Zidane.
They are now currently preparing for their next game against Mexico on Thursday in Polokwane. The Mexicans also opened their World Cup account with a draw where they fought back to salvage a point against the hosts South Africa in the opening game of the competition.
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