Former French captain Zinedine Zidane has criticised coach Raymond Domenech after the 2-0 defeat by Mexico which left Les Bleus on the brink of World Cup elimination.
Zidane, a member of France’s 1998 World Cup-winning team, believes Domenech got his selection wrong by demoting Yoann Gourcuff to the bench, depriving the side of a creative spark.
“The coach made the decision but I don’t agree with it,” Zidane told Mexican television station Televisa. “I am disappointed because France did not have a single shot on goal and that should be the least to be expected. Mexico were superior to France, especially physically.”
Captain Patrice Evra said it felt like France were a “small football nation – and it hurts” after Thursday’s defeat by Mexico.
“It’s a catastrophe, that’s all we can say. We are not a great team,” said Evra, who was part of the side which suffered an early exit at Euro 2008. “When you are knocked out of the European Championship in the first round and you are also capable of being knocked out in the first round of the World Cup, you just don’t want to think about football after that.”
Meanwhile, Nigeria coach Lars Lagerback praised his side despite their 2-1 defeat by Greece which leaves them with only slim hopes of making the World Cup last 16.
The sending off of Nigeria midfielder Sani Kaita changed the game as Greece came back from a goal down to win.
“We started the match quite well, got the goal, then you have the sending off and we had problems,” said Lagerback.
“In the circumstances I’m proud of the attitude and the work that the players put into the second half.”
Despite the defeat the Super Eagles retain a mathematical chance of reaching the knockout stages, but would need to beat South Korea in their final game, hope that Argentina beat Greece and then it would come down to goal difference.
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