• World Cup

Evra should never play for France again - Thuram

Soccernet staff
July 2, 2010
Patrice Evra was benched for France's final World Cup match © Getty Images
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Former France international Lilian Thuram has hit out at current skipper Patrice Evra after the World Cup debacle, claiming he should never play for his country again.

Evra was seen to be at the centre of the players' strike just days before the last group game against South Africa, having a blazing row with the fitness coach before leading the squad back on to the team bus.

And now Thuram has spoken out, claiming his actions were not those of a player who should be playing for the French team.

Speaking after a meeting of the French FA's general council, Thuram said: "I demanded that the players be harshly punished and that Evra never returns to the France squad.

"When you are captain of the France team, you must have a responsibility to the jersey and the people. When the players shut themselves in the bus, and the fact that it was the coach who read the statement, that showed that the coach was no longer respected.

"In any group there are leaders and people who follow, and others who do not agree and do not dare say no.''

Thuram won 142 caps for France and was part of the teams which won the 1998 World Cup and the European Championship two years later. He also played in the 2006 World Cup final.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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