Evra "France fans lack football culture"

[N. Platini]

France defender Patrice Evra has slammed French fans, claiming their lack of support for the national team shows a lack of football culture and that their support paled in comparison to that he receives at Manchester United.

Patrice Evra: Says he receives support come what may at Manchester United.
A disastrous Euro 2008 saw them eliminated at the group stage after failing to win a match and French players were jeered by their own fans at the Stade Velodrome during a friendly defeat by Argentina last month and Evra, who was sidelined for the match, has hit out at the boo boys.

"I was disappointed to see the fans shouting 'ola' when the Argentinians were doing their tricks," he told France sports daily L'Equipe.

"(Manchester United team-mate and Argentina striker Carlos) Tevez, when he came back from international duty, told me he felt as if he was playing in Buenos Aires.

"There were (Diego) Maradona and Argentina flags in the stands. I still haven't seen a (Thierry) Henry flag or a (Franck) Ribery one at the Stade de France.

"The supporters need to be behind us. If they want us to get to the World Cup they will need to do something different."

Evra added: "We don't have the sporting culture of Brazilian, Argentinian, Italian or English fans.

"When I arrived in England, I had the impression that I was doing a new job. Because of the impact of the stadiums and the supporters...there it's a religion.

"We don't lose on purpose, nobody does that, we all go out there to win.

"In three years at United I have just lost two games on the trot for the first time, I understand that we have to win the next game. But even when we've lost, they've still applauded us, not booed."

Evra admits the players have been affected by the jeers and has urged the fans to get behind every single member of the France camp ahead of the crucial double header against Group Seven rivals Lithuania.

"It certainly affects us," he continued. "We talk about it between ourselves.

"I'm at a great club. When you have 76,000 people behind you, it gives you a massive boost, but if you hear boos from the fifth minute, you can't feel the same thing.

"There could be some lasting bitterness following our catastrophic European Championships, but you have to move on. There's a World Cup in Africa that's coming up."

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The bit in bold is so sad , what a joke we are as a nation .


Pathetic !

[SportBoy333]

Yeah we know French fans suck already but I still rather be one than a friggin ManUtd. fan.

[NicolasN.]

I hate the generation of players we have in the national team. Those guys want to be idolatred while they are in the stadium, don't want people to disturb them outside of the stadium with signs or this kind of stuffs. They want big money as well, it's never big enough, though. :cool: They suck (and Evra sucks badly, he should learn what "defense" means) on the pitch, play with no will, and yet we do not have the right to criticize them, they want to do shopping instead of trainning. They are full of themselves as well... It's so hard being a professional football player, I pity them.

Those players are as pathetic as their coach. They ask for patriotism while they always seek for more money and go abroad to taste the taxes of England and now they ask to be supported ? Come on, except Rothen, can anyone name a player who chose the club he supports instead of the money of some british club ? No, because that's impossible to find any of them. Where is their patriotism when them and their entourage are so greedy ? In their wallet, perhaps. Look at Sinama Pongolle, he forgot that he has heard monkey chants in Spain for the money of Atletico during the Santos affair. They have no pride.

If they are jeered by the supporters that's because the players, the coach, the FFF, the League are always insulting the fans. Domenech is still in charge even though he failed, is incompetent, proposed to Estelle Denis after the loss against Italy and a 5 years old kid would communicate better than he. No one wants him to remain, yet he is still here. Thiriez said that France losed in the Euro because of the fans. Of course...If during a National team A' (something which disappeared:cool:) match, we've heard supporters and banners whinning about the lack of tickets for the fans to go to the Euro, that's probably their fault. For the FFF, it's more interesting to have agreements with some companies and giving it away to the VIP. Don't whine that there are no french fans then.

Next time, the supporters should say they are fantastic even when they're losing to Austria. Evra will be happy. :)

The supporters of the national team are probably not the best, but these players and coach don't deserve anything better.

[N. Platini]

While I agree the players shouldn't expect the supporters to be happy after poor performances , to shout "ola" while the opposing team is doing their tricks on us is pathetic .

It's as bad as cheering a goal scored on us . And this was in Marseille , I did not expect that at all . In Paris we all know how the supporters can be , one mistake and the crowd will be on your back . But Marseille ? Usually in the South these supporters cheer the team throughout .

I remember watching France - China in Saint-Etienne just before the WC , the support their was amazing , despite as struggling in that game .

And yes , the people at FFF are total idiots , I agree on that too . How Domenech is still the coach of the national team is a mystery , even if we were not to qualify for South Africa I wouldn't be suprised to see Domenech remain ..

[AfrcnHrbMan]

I'm gonna have to agree with Evra on this one too. Some times the fan support is atrocious. Unless you just go there to boo, all those things that everybody hates about footballers should be left at the door. Just like fans would rather their guys play for the shirt and not their pocketbooks in club footie, fans should be cheering for the shirt not who's in them. Especially when it comes to international football. And it is disheartening to here your own countrymen booing you, when you are trying to make something happen out there. For all its worth, can someone seriously tell me Henry and co. did'nt want that Argentine scalp in Marseille?! Regardless of what anyone tells me, the top players want to beat the best, and play the best, when they're on that stage. It wasn't for lack of effort, give the guys a break.

[SportBoy333]

I hate the generation of players we have in the national team. Those guys want to be idolatred while they are in the stadium, don't want people to disturb them outside of the stadium with signs or this kind of stuffs. They want big money as well, it's never big enough, though. :cool: They suck (and Evra sucks badly, he should learn what "defense" means) on the pitch, play with no will, and yet we do not have the right to criticize them, they want to do shopping instead of trainning. They are full of themselves as well... It's so hard being a professional football player, I pity them.

Those players are as pathetic as their coach. They ask for patriotism while they always seek for more money and go abroad to taste the taxes of England and now they ask to be supported ? Come on, except Rothen, can anyone name a player who chose the club he supports instead of the money of some british club ? No, because that's impossible to find any of them. Where is their patriotism when them and their entourage are so greedy ? In their wallet, perhaps. Look at Sinama Pongolle, he forgot that he has heard monkey chants in Spain for the money of Atletico during the Santos affair. They have no pride.

If they are jeered by the supporters that's because the players, the coach, the FFF, the League are always insulting the fans. Domenech is still in charge even though he failed, is incompetent, proposed to Estelle Denis after the loss against Italy and a 5 years old kid would communicate better than he. No one wants him to remain, yet he is still here. Thiriez said that France losed in the Euro because of the fans. Of course...If during a National team A' (something which disappeared:cool:) match, we've heard supporters and banners whinning about the lack of tickets for the fans to go to the Euro, that's probably their fault. For the FFF, it's more interesting to have agreements with some companies and giving it away to the VIP. Don't whine that there are no french fans then.

Next time, the supporters should say they are fantastic even when they're losing to Austria. Evra will be happy. :)

The supporters of the national team are probably not the best, but these players and coach don't deserve anything better.

Spot on. All excellent points.

[StarrMatthieu]

i have no idea what to say about this.... i feel bad i really hope france makes it to the world cup in africa we have a great team am behind the team and pats way of thinking sucks never liked him or man utd for that matter his way of thinking sucks at at the same time i didn't like mr louis saha,,,, i hope the fans of france will be behind them and will have a good shot in the world cup cause in AFICA we have the most fans ! ALLEZ LES BLEUS

[StarrMatthieu]

Rami : "J'appréhendais un peu mon arrivée parmi les grands"


listen to what ADIL RAMI has to say , this guy has the right attitude .

PAT EVRA is a punk! WE need more players like ADIL RAMI (http://www.fff.fr/mediatheque/bleu/528409.shtml)

http://www.fff.fr/mediatheque/bleu/528409.shtml


this man breaks downs a crys for playing for france


FCuK YOU EVRA !!!!!


ALLEZ LES BLEUS



On March 20 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_20), 2008 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008), he received his first call-up for France (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France_national_football_team). He was informed of the call up by his Lille teammate and captain (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_%28association_football%29) Rio Mavuba (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_Antonio_Mavuba), which Adil took as a joke.[6] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adil_Rami#cite_note-5)The call up was, indeed, considered surprising by the French media and supporters as Rami had only played 17 Ligue 1 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ligue_1) matches.[7] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adil_Rami#cite_note-6)He featured with the B squad in their friendly against Mali (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mali_national_football_team) on 25 March (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_25) 2008 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008). Due to the match not being FIFA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA)-sanctioned, Rami was again called up to Morocco's squad by new manager Roger Lemerre (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Lemerre), this time for their friendly against the Czech Republic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Czech_Republic_national_football_team) on February 11 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/February_11), 2009.[8] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adil_Rami#cite_note-7)Rami again declined the oppurtunity. On March 19 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_19), 2009, he was called up again by Lemerre for their FIFA World Cup qualification match (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_%28CAF%29) against Gabon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabon_national_football_team). Rami, for the third time, declined the oppurtunity[9] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adil_Rami#cite_note-8)and would later accept his call up to the French squad for their FIFA World Cup qualification matches (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_%28UEFA%29) against Lithuania (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithuania_national_football_team).

[Suyuntuy]

And before anyone says anything, he was born in Bastia, not in Morocco.

What a good kid. Although I doubt he'll actually play.

[AfrcnHrbMan]

Yea usually CB depth is just for injury cases. It should be a nice experience though and it certainly raises his profile. Cool back story too. Fortunately for him though he gets all that, without having to be whistled ;)

[shlj]

The French supporters are more fickle than anything else IMO, it is not good comparing the english ones and ours who have a very different culture and footballing way of life.

[guignol]

while i obviously don't share the view that football culture is an oxymoron, saying france is a joke as a nation because the SdF crowd is fickle and shallow and the vélo has a weakness for argentina (those away shirts last year were no coincidence) is going a bit far. normally support in les provinces is very good.

going from louis II to OT evra is obviously going to notice a big difference that doesn't necessarily reflect the nation as a whole.

it's a crying shame lyon never gets any qualifiers, and has only had a handful of friendlies in 20 years*... we have france - turkey coming up in june (sainté gets nigeria, that would have been even better!) and if ray lines up a healthy number of past and present gones we'll tear the roof off the sucker, you watch!

*outside of confed cup and WC, which aren't organized by the FFF

[AfrcnHrbMan]

I remember a game at Nantes where the crowd support was very good.

[guignol]

les bleus also got great support in previous matches in marseille. ditto lens, metz, bordeaux... even grenoble in a 20,000 seater. the argie match was a one-off, other than that the problem isn't france it's the stade de france.

[SportBoy333]

If the new stadiums in Lyon and Lille get built soon, they will host friendlies and qualifiers for sure and the atmosphere will be good. Most of the stadiums as of now are too small for qualifiers.

[lefutur]

this time at the Stade de France, the fans made it very clear that they were only jeering the coach and not the players. when the announcer said domenech's name the stadium booed and whistled, but then they cheered on the team for 90 minutes.

well played. :D