France

French footballing legend and World Cup winner Zinedine Zidane laid into the French team yesterday for refusing to train after striker Nicolas Anelka was thrown out of the camp for insulting the coach.

"Concerning the players, I don't agree with the fact that they refused to go to the training pitch," Zidane told reporters in Johannesburg.

Words can get you into trouble. Not if your name is Wayne Rooney and you are valuable to the money men, but if your name is Nicolas Anelka and the money men from your country have real values - you are on a plane home.

The World Cup has woken up and it is getting quite good isn't. That game was very enjoyable to watch and I'd watch it again. Nothing has really changed for South Africa - they must beat France on June 22nd and hope there is a winner in the match between Uruguay and Mexico - and I fancy there will be.

But and this is the important thing if you are a South African and you are going to be in Bloemfontein; you must sing for South Africa - and throw away your vuvuzela. Sing for your team and let blow those vuvuzela at the French. You must create an advantage.

Chances are that if either Mexico or France win tonight that they won't go top of the group but the will be a step closer to the last sixteen and both teams could do it.

But we really want a draw. We want a draw because our second team is South Africa and we want South Africa to have the best opportunity possible and if there is a draw, that is it.

French defender and third choice keeper Cedric Carrasso pulled out of training yesterday - both with muscle worries.

Training was taking place in Knysna and half way through Gallas walked off with the problem. "It's a muscle problem, nothing serious," a team spokesman said without elaborating.

Now, we do not mean to mock Mr Gallas but he confirmed today what many people have known for a very long time. He is the typical spoilt brat but anyone that has followed the Premier League for the past few seasons will already know this.

Why do I say this? Well, he is refusing to talk to the media for the duration of the World Cup. We don't know why, but we do know it is typical Gallas.

Things do not look to be going the way they should be for the French. While they might still be feeling a little guilty over the way they made it to South Africa that is no excuse to perform so poorly during the build up to the event. Now, to top it all off, they go and lose to China.

Deng Zhuoxiang's 68th-minute goal was enough to win it for China and the match finished 1-0. While the French will feel a little unlucky, they did have the majority of the ball, it is results that matter and this wasn't a good one.

French defender and inspirational Arsenal defender William Gallas is expected to be fit to play in France's final friendly against China on Friday and be completely available for the first match against Uruguay on June 11th.

Gallas missed training on Wednesday because of a stomach ache but coach Raymond Domenech says he should have recovered in time for the game tomorrow.

This is the final 23 man squad for France as of yesterday. If a player gets injured or if the coach changes his mind, he can change things about - he has until June 1st to submit the final squad and they will be waiting until then.

Coach Raymond Domenech has confirmed they will not be replacing Diarra and that inspirational defender William Gallas has been passed fit to play in South Africa despite fears about his fitness.