France captain Patrice Evra. (AP)

Read more on:   

• south africa

• france

Related Links

• France drop captain Evra
• Bookies fancy Bafana defeat
• Les Bleus are our toughest yet

Ian Sparks and Huw Borland, Sky News Online

London - In a Sky News scoop, reports are that France's football team have been ordered to pack their bags before their last-ditch World Cup group clash with South Africa.

A coach will be waiting outside the stadium to take the players directly to the airport if they lose the match, kicking off at 16:00.

They will not be allowed to return to their five-star hotel and will face the ultimate humiliation of a second-class flight back to Paris the same afternoon.

Ill discipline, poor performances, the dismissal of Nicolas Anelka and the subsequent refusal to train by many of the senior French squad culminated in a strongly worded rebuke by French Sports Minister Roselyne Bachelot, who said: "I told the players that they are perhaps no longer heroes for our children.

"It is the dreams of your partners, your friends, your supporters that you have broken. It is the image of France that you have tarnished."

Online newspaper Le Post revealed that the French Football Federation were so sure they would lose their final match they chartered the plane to fly them home three days ago.

It wrote: "They arrived travelling first class on a new Airbus A380. But they will be going back on an older Boeing 737, second class and with no special extras.

"The plane was booked three days ago, and will take off right after their match with South Africa should they be eliminated, without stopping off at their hotel."

Meanwhile, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Finance Minister Christine Lagarde have described the squad's behaviour as "unacceptable".

The French media has launched scathing attacks on the entire squad, with one newspaper describing the players as acting like "a bunch of seven-year-olds".

Ms Lagarde told the players: "When you wear the French national colours you have added responsibilities.

"There are young children, young adolescents who practice the sport and look to you as an example."

Fast-food chain Quick has cancelled an ad campaign featuring Anelka and removed images of him from all advertising.

The Credit Agricole bank has also withdrawn its sponsorship in disgust.

French football bosses have blamed senior players William Gallas and Thierry Henry for plotting the team's World Cup mutiny.

Official Henri Monteil said: "Three or four are leaders taking the rest along with them. Some went to see Domenech. They were crying, saying sorry for what happened. They were young players.

"The leaders are players who'll never play in a World Cup again. Who? William Gallas, Eric Abidal and Thierry Henry, who is friends with Nicolas Anelka."

France must beat South Africa to stand any chance of advancing to last 16, but they also need one team to win in the Mexico-Uruguay match or they face certain elimination.