I don’t keep up with soccer (football / futbol), but mixed in with other sports news today I heard of something unusual regarding the 2010 FIFA World Cup.  The players from France’s soccer team boycotted their practice because one of their players was kicked off the team for inappropriate behavior during a game.  If they truly believe they were treated wrongly and unfairly, I could see boycotting a game to make a protest.  I’m not sure how much it helps to boycott your own practices…

France’s coach, Raymond Domenech, was tasked with the job of trying to get his players to practice and be prepared for their match.  Today he said publicly:

“I tried to convince them that what they were doing was an aberration, an imbecility, a stupidity without name.”

I’m pretty sure that’s not the best motivational speech I’ve ever heard.  Maybe something was lost in translation…