Tournament News
Blanc into French hot seat
2010-07-06 15:45
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Paris - New France coach Laurent Blanc on Tuesday promised to usher in a new era for Les Bleus just three weeks after the team were plunged into the darkest days of their history at the World Cup.
The former Bordeaux coach has been given the task of cleaning up the mess after a catastrophic World Cup campaign which brought down the curtain on the six-year rule of Raymond Domenech.
A member of the glorious 1998 World Cup-winning team, Blanc said he had been "outraged" by the behaviour of certain players during the tournament but refused to be drawn on whether sanctions would be taken.
Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka was sent home in disgrace for swearing at Domenech with his expulsion provoking an angry reaction from his teammates who refused to take part in a training session ahead of their next game against South Africa which the French eventually lost ending their World Cup campaign.
"I can't act as if nothing happened in South Africa," said Blanc.
"I followed events with great sadness. I was disappointed by the sporting performance but I was above all outraged by certain behaviour. I'll take stock of these elements in my analyses and thoughts."
Blanc continued: "What shocked and disappointed me most was the group's behaviour during the only training session open to the media 48 hours before the third match against South Africa."
There have been calls that World Cup captain Patrice Evra never be allowed to play for France again for his role as the ringleader in the team's refusal to train, but Blanc refused to attribute blame.
"Those responsible are many but it's not up to me to say if sanctions will be taken. My problem is to put together the best team with the best players. I won't be the bogeyman."
Asked whether he intended to make a fresh start with new players, Blanc said: "We could do it but you'd be the first to say that the France team is not winning. I'm here to win, it's a delicate situation and a lot of discussion is needed."
The new France coach has, however, decided to return to the set-up in place when he won the World Cup in 1998 and the European title in 2000.
Henri Emile will return to the post of team administrator, a position he held from 1984 until Domenech's appointment in 2004 with Philippe Tournon returning as chief press officer. Alain Boghossian will remain as deputy coach.
Blanc, who cut his teeth for the job in coaching Bordeaux to the 2009 French league title, added that more appointments would be made.
"They will be new men, qualified, very competent, who share the same enthusiasm, the same motivation as those I called on when I was with Bordeaux," added the 44-year-old.