Nicolas Anelka returned, without tongue in cheek, to his tormented history with the France team.
A precocious talent, Nicolas Anelka began his adventure in the French team at the age of only 19, launched by a certain Aimé Jacquet who ultimately did not retain him for the 1998 World Cup. The former PSG striker, of Arsenal or Real Madrid was then sidelined by Jacques Santini, with whom the flow did not work. He even asked the coach at the time “kneel” in front of him so that he can consider a return to the Blues.
His big comeback in the tricolor jersey Nicolas Anelka will finally make it in 2005, under the Raymond Domenech era. But again, he was not selected for the 2006 World Cup. The kid from Trappes, on the other hand, was on the trip to South Africa four years later, but remained one of the symbols of the Knysna fiasco, he who He had a spat with Domenech at half-time of France-Mexico (0-2), hastening the end of his story with the Blues.
“I had a problem with this jersey”
On the Disruptors YouTube channel, Anelka looked back on his tumultuous journey with the French team. And as usual, he didn’t mince his words. “I had a problem with this jersey. I didn’t find myself with the mentality, the supporters, the way of thinking, he confided. I found myself more with the English mentality. It’s sad because when you look at my statistics with France, I scored 14 goals, including 12 away (in 69 caps, editor’s note). »
