STOP THE PETIT QUARRELS NOW
FRANCE legend Emmanuel Petit fears the biggest danger to Les Bleus’ defence of the World Cup will be in-fighting.
Petit won the trophy in 1998, scoring in the final against Brazil.
But four years later, France suffered a shock 1-0 defeat by Senegal in their opening match and finished bottom of the group. They went out of the 2002 finals without scoring a goal – the worst defence of the trophy in World Cup history.
If France make it to the last eight in Qatar, they could face England in the quarter-finals.
And former Arsenal star Petit (inset) warned only a united front will be good enough to meet the challenge.
He said: “On the pitch, we have the quality, personality and character to do well, but I hope that egos do not take over. That would be the biggest threat to our chances.”
France were already without star midfielders Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante when £54m Chelsea-bound striker Christopher Nkunku was ruled out of the tournament earlier this week.
But Petit, 52, says disharmony, which engulfed the camp at last year’s Euros, could be as destructive.
In the back of an Airbus A320 at Stansted airport, escorting the FIFA trophy on its Coca Cola-sponsored world tour, ex-midfielder Petit said: “If anything, the French will fear England more, especially right now with all the troubles surrounding our national team’s big players. “It is only last year (at the Euros) when there were difficulties in the relationship between some players, and even their families in the stadium as well.
“There were so many fights, especially during the Switzerland game where we drew 3-3 and were then eliminated on penalties.
“After ruling the world in ’98 we crashed altogether.”