Didier Drogba has backed Chelsea team-mate Nicolas Anelka after he was kicked out of France's World Cup squad.
Anelka was sent home from South Africa after a dressing-room bust-up with coach Raymond Domenech at half-time in Thursday's Group A game against Mexico.
Les Bleus went on to lose 2-0 and have only a slim chance of reaching the second round having drawn 0-0 with Uruguay in their group opener.
The French squad refused to train on Sunday because of Anelka's expulsion, putting their plans for Tuesday's crunch clash against South Africa in disarray.
But Ivory Coast star Drogba is right behind Anelka and is confident his Chelsea strike partner is strong enough to move on from the sorry episode.
"He has been a team-mate for two-and-a-half years, and yes, I support him," Drogba is quoted as saying on news24.com.
"I wish him good luck, it's a difficult time for him.
"He is very strong mentally, he's a competitor. I was surprised he was kicked out of the team."
Meanwhile, French president Nicolas Sarkozy has asked his sports minister, Roselyne Bachelot, to meet with the key figures in the national team row.
"We are taking note of the indignation of the French people and calling for dignity and responsibility," she told TFI television.
"It's not yet the right time to take disciplinary action but that time will come very soon."
Economy minister Christine Lagarde, who represented her country as a synchronised swimmer, told LCI television: "I am appalled because I have worn the French national colours, as you know, and when you wear the French national colours you have added responsibilities.
"The first is to be the best possible in sport, but also to be exemplary because you are watched.
"There are young children, young adolescents who practise the sport and look to you as an example."
Even if France beat the hosts in Bloemfontein on Tuesday, a draw between Mexico and Uruguay would see both nations progress to the last 16 and knock out the 2006 runners-up.
Anelka was sent home from South Africa after a dressing-room bust-up with coach Raymond Domenech at half-time in Thursday's Group A game against Mexico.
Les Bleus went on to lose 2-0 and have only a slim chance of reaching the second round having drawn 0-0 with Uruguay in their group opener.
The French squad refused to train on Sunday because of Anelka's expulsion, putting their plans for Tuesday's crunch clash against South Africa in disarray.
But Ivory Coast star Drogba is right behind Anelka and is confident his Chelsea strike partner is strong enough to move on from the sorry episode.
"He has been a team-mate for two-and-a-half years, and yes, I support him," Drogba is quoted as saying on news24.com.
"I wish him good luck, it's a difficult time for him.
"He is very strong mentally, he's a competitor. I was surprised he was kicked out of the team."
Meanwhile, French president Nicolas Sarkozy has asked his sports minister, Roselyne Bachelot, to meet with the key figures in the national team row.
"We are taking note of the indignation of the French people and calling for dignity and responsibility," she told TFI television.
"It's not yet the right time to take disciplinary action but that time will come very soon."
Economy minister Christine Lagarde, who represented her country as a synchronised swimmer, told LCI television: "I am appalled because I have worn the French national colours, as you know, and when you wear the French national colours you have added responsibilities.
"The first is to be the best possible in sport, but also to be exemplary because you are watched.
"There are young children, young adolescents who practise the sport and look to you as an example."
Even if France beat the hosts in Bloemfontein on Tuesday, a draw between Mexico and Uruguay would see both nations progress to the last 16 and knock out the 2006 runners-up.
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