Sarkozy summons ministers to discuss World Cup debacle

Source: afp

AFP - France's shamed World Cup squad faced the wrath of President Nicolas Sarkozy, the press and a furious public on Wednesday after a disastrous exit from the tournament in South Africa.

The players were due to fly back to a humiliated country that has largely written them off as spoiled millionaires led by an incompetent coach and unworthy of the blue jersey worn by the 1998 world champions.

France is so angry that Sarkozy, who had been hoping a good showing from the team might cheer a country facing difficult economic times, has called a meeting of government ministers to discuss the defeat.
...
Meanwhile, the airwaves were filling with outraged commentators and call-in listeners, criticising everything from the team's lack of patriotism -- many failed to sing the national anthem -- to the players' level of education.

Read more: http://www.france24.com/en/20100623-sarkozy-calls-ministers-discuss-france-shamed-world-cup-squad-thierry-henri

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i was uncertain if here in the LBN or in the lounge.
but sarko has taken it so seriously that i did not feel to turn it to light fun.

though i am amused by the government to meet to discuss france soccer debacle.
useless for sarko to ride this - french people can tell important issues from trifles.

This kind of nonsense occurs on both sides of the Atlantic.

...regular seasons and people betting on matches and all.

but to discuss the lack of patriotism and such...
yes, really nonsense.

But only a kernel. It's not like they couldn't be discussing far more serious and extensive illegal drug problems if they liked; steroid use among professional sports people gets political attention because sports are a huge public thing in this country.

I agree, though: it is not quite as bad as this.

The same goes with England and Italy. I'll also throw in American baseball players just to be fair.

and ridiculous, especially given the truly important issues facing France and the worlld today, I also have to wonder just what, exactly, are the ministers supposed to DO about it? What, exactly, CAN they do? Does the French government have control over the soccer team or is it private and independent of the government? If it's private (and I don't know anything about it, 'cause, frankly, I really don't give a shit about any sports), then I don't see what, exactly, they can do and it's just pandering showboating of the worst kind, to distract from real issues and to give a political benefit.