France manager Laurent Blanc has called for international sides to be given more time together during a season. With the footballing calendar already full of league, cup and continental competition, the World Cup winner has stated his belief that at times international fixtures are forced to take a backseat to the domestic game. “Everybody agrees that the national sides must have more importance,” Blanc told Reuters on Tuesday. “There ...More

The line between success and failure is never so blurred as it is during a World Cup. As we approach the final of this summer’s tournament, this writer takes a look at the aspects of the world cup that have failed to live up to the pre-tournament hype, whether they be players, coaches or behind-the-scenes issues. 10. Fabio Capello Just a month ago, the Italian tactician was being lauded as Sir Alf Ramsey’s natural successor. His unf...More

If some thought the first week of the World Cup had taken a bit of time to get going, then the topsy-turvy nature of the second week certainly did its best to up for it. The first side to be eliminated from the competition was Cameroon, who conspired to put on by far their best performance of the tournament against Denmark, yet still lost out 2-1. Two days later they were followed by the hosts South Africa, who despite an impressi...More

In the summer of 2006 Italy and France had proved themselves to be the best two footballing nations on the planet, as they contested the World Cup final in Berlin. Four years on in South Africa and the two nations’ names have been inscribed in the tome of World Cup history for a very different reason. For the first ever occasion in the now vast records of the World Cup have both finalists four years previous failed to get past the group...More

Adding to the poor results, the French players made matters even worse with their unprofessional and disrespectful behaviour towards their supporters and, more alarmingly, their country. The refusal of players to train on Sunday prompted a full-scale reaction from various figures including the office of President Nicolas Sarkozy. French Sports Minister Roselyne Bachelot referred to the actions of the players as a "moral disaster" an...More

Group A had it all - flamboyance, noise, tears, tantrums, history and, above all, drama. When the smoke had cleared it was jeers for the French, tears for the hosts, and joy for the representatives of the American sub-continent. The opening ceremony introduced us to the world’s largest dung beetle, while the opening game that followed it was a feast for the senses as the passionate home fans got into party mode and the now-familiar bl...More