The Leadership Blog
This leadership blog, examines the news that cliques and internal division threaten to undermine France's World Cup.
Football - Another Outbreak Of French Cliques...
France's opening World Cup draw against Uruguay, was characterised by an united sense of lifelessness. From the singing of the National Anthem to the subsequent goal drought, this was a French team devoid of purpose. Devoid of ideas. Devoid of energy.
So, it comes as no surprise to learn a few days later, of divisions in the camp. France's playmaker Yoann Gourcuff - the struggling heir apparent to Zinedine Zidane - is being cast as socially isolated from the core of Les Bleus squad.
"Yo Gourcuff, I never hear him," said captain Patrice Evra. "To speak to Gourcuff, you have to talk to Jeremy Toulalan. It's with him that I see him having a laugh."
There is even speculation that Gourcuff is being ignored by his team-mates on the pitch, with Nicolas Anelka and Franck Ribery allegedly guilty of deliberately not passing the ball to the Bordeaux midfielder.
Isn't this history repeating itself? Weren't we here before in Euro 2008?
If the French captain is aware that one of his players is on the outside of team affairs. What is he doing to create a greater sense of inclusion? Why hasn't he rasied the issue with coach Raymond Domenech?
Why? Because in this French team, personal ambition is holding sway over the needs of the team. Its every man for himself right now. And that is why the energy levels of the team were so sluggish on Friday.
The energy of a team comes from when everyone the same cause ripples through the arteries of each player. They are serving the French people. The nation. Its history. Its values. Its beliefs. Its yearnings.
But not this French team. Not right now. Its an act of gross negligence on the part of the leadership, to allow divisions to hold sway. Of course its not too late.
It will need someone strong to sand up and say, 'This is not right'. Have France such a leader in their ranks? And if not, why not?
