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Ben Arfa’s Euros At An End After “Useless” Attack?

12 years ago
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The full details have emerged of France’s latest in-squad squabbling, with Hatem Ben Arfa at the centre of the action.

Following the feeble defeat by Sweden, things were infinitely more interesting in back in the dressing room.

This is how L’Equipe have covered it today and our thanks as always to Pierre for the translation services.

Problems for Ben Arfa and Nasri ?

Alou Diarra, the trigger?

According to L’Equipe it is ‘Alou Diarra, who lit the fuse’. The Marseille midfielder lost it against some players of the Blues attack. He accuses them, “their attitude on the pitch, their disinterest in defensive duties, lack of motivation”. Inevitably, some in the changing room felt targeted. Samir Nasri asked the number 18 of the Blues to remain polite. The tension upped up a notch.

Hatem Ben Arfa, his phone … and his proposal

Whilst all this is happening, Hatem Ben Arfa uses his phone. Caught by Laurent Blanc who according to L’Equipe reacted by saying, “Hatem, why not call your family while you’re at it!”. The player then stood up and looked directly at the coach Laurent Blanc, accusing him of being taken off on the 59th minute whereas, ”some players who were more useless than me remained on the pitch”, and invited the coach to send him home  if he was not satisfied with him.

Yet again, Samir Nasri believes to be targeted. His teammate Franck Ribery tries to get everyone to calm down but to no avail.

The likelihood of Hatem Ben Arfa being on the pitch again is now unlikely.

Again, Samir Nasri would have been affected by the term, “more useless than me”, and felt targeted. The tone escalated between Nasri and Ben Arfa, the latter accusing the first to have faked his injury (taken off  in the 79th minute).

Laurent Blanc has admitted in a press conference that,  “It was hot. After a defeat, the blood in the vein was hot, a little warm, it’s part of what happens in a changing room. So, it was cooled off with a shower”. He tried to play down the situation

A good summing up:  Hatem Ben Arfa, who has disappointed Laurent Blanc against Sweden, has surely signed the end of his Euro 2012 after this exchange with coach.

One time best mates Nasri and Ben Arfa now appear to be anything but as the dressing room arguments that haunted France previously appear to have resurfaced.

Later the following appeared on the official website of the French Football Federation;

Ben Arfa and Blanc “Have shaken hands”

According to Alain Boghossian (The French No.2), the altercation between Hatem Ben Arfa and Laurent Blanc after France-Sweden (0-2) was quickly resolved and ended with a handshake between two men.

Whether this intervention by Blanc’s number two is just window dressing will no doubt be judged by how involved, or not, Hatem Ben Arfa is against Spain on Saturday.

From the outside it looks like France have a number of ‘characters’ in the dressing room, at St.James’ Park maybe one proves to be the ideal number.

“There was no real clash, there was an exchange. Both people have moved on and shook hands,” insisted the assistant coach of the Blues.

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