• World Cup

Malouda admits France strike was a 'disaster'

ESPN Soccernet staff
June 29, 2010
Florent Malouda has apologised to France fans © Getty Images
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Florent Malouda has admitted that the France squad should never have gone on strike in the run-up to their final group match against hosts South Africa, calling the players' actions "a big disaster".

Malouda, who was dropped from the starting XI after a run in with coach Raymond Domenech, now hopes France can move forward under new boss Laurent Blanc and put the disgrace of the 2010 World Cup behind them.

The France squad refused to train two days before the South Africa match in protest at the expulsion of Nicolas Anelka, who himself had a bust-up with Domenech at half-time in the match against Mexico.

"We were in a state of mind where we were reacting to something but it was the wrong decision," said Malouda. "It was a big disaster and we are thinking about the future.

"It was like we didn't know how to get the results. We didn't know how to work on the confidence because there was a loss of confidence on the pitch. We were trying to find a solution but we didn't know where to start.

"To get the results you have to restore the confidence - the confidence in the manager, the confidence in the work you're putting in in training.

"I really hope and I think all the French now really hope that he [Laurent Blanc] can turn things in a positive way. There's a lot of expectation. People are aware it's going to be difficult but we need that - the nation needs that.

"So I hope he's going to be the man of the situation and will have everybody's help.''

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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