High drama: Bafana D-Day

Bloemfontein - Controversial French coach Raymond Domenech admitted on Monday night that he did not know which players would take the field against Bafana Bafana in their last World Cup Group A match at the Free State Stadium on Tuesday.

The 1998 world champions are in turmoil less than 24 hours before they face Bafana and it appears that the unpopular Domenech has lost the plot.

But SA coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said he was not concerned about the French being in turmoil, Sapa's Billy Cooper reported.

"All I know is we meet a world class French side and we have to win to stay alive.

"It is not my business as to what is going on in their camp, but I know when France take the field against us they will be determined to win. So we must disregard what we have heard concerning the troubles in their camp and focus on the job of finishing the group stage with a convincing win,” said Parreira.

Parreira faces the embarrassment of being the coach of the first host country to be eliminated from the World Cup after the first round.

"We hope to avoid going out, but there has to be a first time for everything. It will be very disappointing to end our campaign after France, but I want us to finish with a convincing win which I believe we can achieve, Parreria said Monday.

Beeld's Retha Grobbler reports that former Bafana skipper Lucas Radebe and former French captain Zinedine Zidane told journalists in Sandton on Monday that both teams’ chances were remote of advancing to the second round.

“We have a small chance to go through. It looks difficult, but nothing is impossible,” said Radebe.

However, he is unsure whether the players will be able to do the job.

“Even if you have the best coach it’s about the players. We don’t have the quality yet to compete at this level.”

However, Bafana’s problems are minor compared to the chaos in the French camp.

The French coach further added that he was not sure if his captain and Manchester United left back Patrice Evra would lead the side against Bafana.

Domenech was speaking at a media briefing at the match venue after his players had refused to train at their Knysna base on Sunday in protest against the French Football Federation expelling striker Nicolas Anelka who had a heated row with Domenech at halftime of their second group match against Mexico in Polokwane last Thursday night.

Mexico won 2-0.

Domenech faced the media minus Evra. When asked Domenech why Evra was not there he replied: “Evra must do his talking on the pitch against South Africa not in front of a microphone.”

But be added: “ I do not know if he will captain the side against South Africa.”

The French coach then said he did not know what the composition of his team would be against Bafana.

Domenech said: “It will not be easy selection the side (after this). But it is my responsibility and I will finalise the side tonight. I will see who is mentally and physically prepared to play.”

When asked if he still trusted and had confidence in Evra, one of the ring leaders of the strike Domenech said: “It is not a question of trust or confidence. The players need to make amends and show what they are made of and rise to the occasion against South Africa.”

Evra had a public row with the physical trainer on Sunday prior to the players strike while the Team Director Jean-Louis Valatin resigned in disgust following the strike.

Domenech added: “I fully support the French FF in expelling Anelka. Nobody has the right to behave in this manner inside the change room.”

The beleaguered French coach also said that he tried to prevent the players’ strike on Sunday: “I spoke to the players for 45 minutes on the bus before training trying to convince them not to do it (strike).

What happened was unthinkable, a masquerade. In no way do I support the actions of the players. It was stupid what the players did.”

Both France and Bafana have one point from their two group matches played so far and need a miracle to progress in the tournament.

Both Mexico and Uruguay have four points and if they draw their match at the same time the result of the Bafana-France clash will not matter.

The match will likely decide which side finishes bottom of the group.

Bafana will not have a better chance to record a famous victory against a side in the world’s top 10 and exorcise the ghost of 1998 when France destroyed a ‘rookie” Bafana side 3-0 in their opening World Cup match in Marseilles and then went on to become world champions.

Kick-off is a 16:00