Football News In Brief

Sunday, 25th July 2010 at 05:05am

Blanc Suspends France World Cup Squad

Following the player revolt that ruined France's World Cup campaign, new France national coach Laurent Blanc has suspended every member of the squad that travelled to South Africa in June for the upcoming friendly against Norway on August 11.

France failed to win any of their three group matches at the finals in June.

The announcement by the French Football Federation means that the players in Raymond Domenech's World Squad won't be eligible to play for Les Blues until France's first Euro 2012 qualifier against Belarus on September 3.

Blanc said: "I obviously cannot act as if nothing had happened in South Africa.

"I followed the events with sadness, I was disappointed with the sporting results and I was shocked by certain behaviours.

"I will integrate these elements into my analysis and my thoughts. I always had the principles, rules of conduct and not just in my sporting life. They have not changed and I will not change."

Maradona Set To Remain In Charge

Despite Argentina's humiliating quarter final exit at the hands of Germany, coach Diego Maradona is set to be offered a new contract that will place him in charge of the national team until 2014 and the World Cup finals in Brazil.

Maradona lead Argentina to the World Cup in his first position as a coach and lead them to the last eight where they exited following a 4-0 defeat to Joachim Loew's talented young German side.

Before that match, Argentina had become one of the favourites to win the tournament after an impressive series of displays in their first four matches.

Maradona hinted that he would quit his position after seeing his side slump to that heavy defeat.

The president of the Argentine Football Association Julio Grondona is scheduled to meet the 1986 World Cup winner next week to discuss the terms of extending his contract.

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