French coach Raymond Domenech, who is grappling with a players revolt, on Tuesday dropped captain Patrice Evra and two other key players for the team’s crucial game against South Africa.
Manchester United’s Evra, Chelsea’s Florent Malouda and Barcelona’s Eric Abidal will start the game on the substitutes bench, according to the official start list issued by FIFA.
On the eve of the match, Domenech branded some of his players as “stupid” for their decision to boycott training in solidarity with striker Nicolas Anelka, who was expelled from the squad over the weekend.
Anelka was dismissed after he refused to apologise to Domenech for insulting him during a dressing room exchange in the half-time break of the team’s 2-0 loss to Mexico last Thursday.
