Shamed French squad face humiliating return

France's shamed World Cup squad faced the wrath of President Nicolas Sarkozy, the press and a furious public yesterday 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, yesterday called a meeting of government ministers to discuss the debacle.

"Those responsible for this disaster must accept the consequences, first the players, then the team management and after them the football federation," sports minister Roselyne Bachelot said.

Sarkozy has not spoken publicly on the French campaign - which was marked by two defeats, one draw, a player strike, dressing room squabbles and a single goal - but his government's spokesman expressed fury.

"For me, as a supporter of the team, I'm obviously very disappointed. As a citizen I'm truly indignant by what has gone on, and as minister for education I am terribly angry," Luc Chatel told Canal Plus television.

Chatel said the squad had lacked "respect, team spirit, pride and enough dignity to wear the shirt of any club, from the smallest local side to that of the French national team."

The minister singled out French coach Raymond Domenech for criticism, citing in particular his unsportsmanlike refusal to shake the hand of the South African manager after the final defeat as a bad example to younger players.

He also attacked the outgoing team captain, Manchester United defender Patrice Evra, for his part in a players' strike on Sunday, when the team refused to train in protest at the sacking of striker Nicolas Anelka.

Tens of thousands of French fans across the country booed the players during Tuesday's broadcast of their limp 2-1 defeat, even cheering ironically when South Africa scored, and the press was no kinder.

Several newspapers noted that France had only qualified for the finals in the first place by "cheating" Ireland of its place when striker Thierry Henry handled the ball before their winning goal in a qualifying match.

Henry was due to return to France separately from the rest of his team-mates and will meet Sarkozy today, having requested a private audience. The rest of the squad were to fly back late in the night and arrive early today.