Bafana Bafana held their final training session ahead of their last group game of the 2010 FIFA World Cup at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on Monday morning, after which the South African coach Carlos Alberto Parreira addressed the media and the first questions he fielded were relating to the reported dissent in the ranks of Bafana’s opponents France.

The French team refused to train on Sunday and walked off the training ground as a result of striker Nicolas Anelka being sent home as a result of him having an argument with the coach during Frances 2 – 0 loss to Mexico.

There has also been a reported rift between the coach Raymond Domenech and his players Parreira was not letting the trouble in the French team affect his preparation for the game and commented on the issue saying, “since before the beginning of the World Cup there has been a lot of friction between the French players and the coach”.

Whatever has happened in the French team according to Parreira will have no bearing on the outcome of the game, “what’s happened in the last two days will not have an effect on the game on the pitch. Outside the pitch the news will be carried worldwide”.

The Brazilian mentor has been to a number of World Cups and knows that when they take to the field the 1998 World Champions will be playing for their honour. “When the French players enter the pitch they will know they have to win, and they will know the world is watching them. I think they are going to perform very

well.”

South Africa need to win against France and hope that there is a winner in the game between Uruguay and Mexico, Parreira furthermore believes that neither team will want to lose that game even though a draw will be enough to see them progress at the expense of South Africa and France.

Commenting when asked whether he felt Mexico and Uruguay will play for a draw he felt that neither team would want to face Argentina in the next round, “I’m sure the [Uruguay and Mexico] players will not make a deal. Maybe one of the two teams don’t want to play Argentina, and they’ll go for a win,”

He also added on the matter “they can decide that the rules are in their favour, and they don’t care who they play, so aim for a draw. It’s not our problem – our problem is to play for a win against France, and the rest is out of our hands.”

Parreira also confirmed that he would be making five changes to the Bafana line up on Tuesday from the team who were defeated by Uruguay last week; one forced change is that of Chiefs keeper Itumeleng Khune who will miss the game through suspension and should be replaced by Moeneeb Josephs. He did not say who the other incoming players could be.

It is thought that Parreira in a bid to find goals early on in the game will start with a very attacking formation against France; this could see him start with three strikers and make changes to his midfield personnel.