PARIS - Former France coach Raymond Domenech has broken his silence over the World Cup debacle, labeling the players "stupid brats" for going on strike at a training session to make "a laughing stock" of their country.
Domenech's bitter six-year tenure as France coach ended after last year's World Cup in South Africa and he had previously declined to comment on the incident.
He now says in an interview to be published Wednesday in L'Express magazine that the players were to blame for ridiculing a once-proud national team that won the 1998 World Cup and European Championship in 2000.
"They knew perfectly well what they were doing. They even closed the bus curtains to hide from the cameras," Domenech said in extracts on the magazine's website. "Looking back, I see them above all as a bunch of irresponsible, stupid brats."
The squad shocked the nation and provoked the ire of politicians and fans by refusing to train after Nicolas Anelka had been sent home for insulting Domenech during halftime of France's second group game against Mexico.
Anelka was subsequently suspended for 18 matches by the French football federation. Former captain Patrice Evra (five games), Franck Ribery (three games) and Jeremy Toulalan (one game) were also banned for their part in the boycott.
