France’s Patrice Evra Is a Survivor and Is Aiming for World Cup Redemption

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: November 12, 2013

commentComment        

With its shelving of club rivalries, international week is usually a signal for the European football media to drop its intensity down a notch or two. Just as with any rule, however, there are exceptions, and there is rarely the prospect of a quiet week where Patrice Evra is involved.

Given everything that the Manchester United left-back has been through on France duty, it’s extraordinary to consider that he is on the brink of a return to the World Cup, ahead of the two-legged play-off against Ukraine. He was the captain that presided over the "Bus of Shame" episode at France’s 2010 World Cup training camp at Knysna.

As France’s players refused to train in support of the expelled Nicolas Anelka, Evra was the visible face of rebellion, explaining the situation to fitness coach Robert Duverne, who memorably threw his stopwatch into some nearby bushes in a fit of pique. It was an enduring image.

It became political. Even months after the incident—and Evra’s five-match ban for his perceived part in it—sports minister Chantal Jouanno repeatedly made plain her opposition to Evra (and Franck Ribery) returning to the France squad.

The simmering, ill feeling from the aftermath of Knysna resurfaced recently when Evra accused television pundits of “lying” about his unpopularity in France in a tempestuous interview with Telefoot (in French). “I don’t have a problem with anyone—just with the commentators,” Evra stormed.

In the oft-paranoid environment surrounding France post-2010, centred on public perception, it seemed Evra might have talked himself into a ban, but the Federation Francaise de Football (FFF) declined to punish him. Didier Deschamps has also ducked the discussion. “It’s your debate—I’ll leave you to it,” the coach told journalists last week, as reported here in French publication L’Equipe.
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football

Latest News


Comments

Comments are closed.

Sponsors

Bruins Tickets The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League.

Red Wings Tickets The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League.

Penguins Tickets The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League.

New York Rangers Tickets play their home games at Madison Square Garden, they are one of the oldest teams in the NHL, having joined in 1926 as an expansion franchise, and are part of the group of teams referred to as the Original Six.

San Jose Sharks Tickets The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States.

Toronto Maple Leafs Tickets The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League.

New Jersey Devils Tickets The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League.

Washington Capitals Tickets The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C.

Buffalo Sabres Tickets The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League. Get the Sabres and all of your NHL Tickets here.

NASCAR season is on of the most attended sports in the world. NASCAR Tickets to the best tracks is a must every year. Some of these tracks are: Talladega Tickets, Lowes Motor Speedway Tickets, Pocono Raceway Tickets, located in Ridgeway Virginia you have Martinsville Speedway Tickets and southern US you have two of the most popular Atlanta Motor Speedway Tickets and Texas Motor Speedway Tickets. Don't miss all the racing events this year!

Boston Red Sox Tickets The Boston Red Sox are a member of the Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Since 1912, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park. This is one of the hottest MLB Tickets sales of any team in the major league.

New York Yankees Tickets The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the borough of the Bronx, in New York City, New York and are a member of Major League Baseball's American League East Division. Get tickets to one of the hottest games of the season Yankees Red Sox Tickets.

Chicago Cubs Tickets The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League.

Phillies Tickets The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883.

Orioles Tickets The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland.

Do you love wrestling? Get your WWE Tickets and WWE Survivor Series Tickets today!