FRANCE captain Patrice Evra has revealed an enquiry is to be opened by the French government into Les Bleus' disastrous World Cup campaign.
The squad flew back from South Africa yesterday following a dismal performance where they mustered a solitary point from three games and gained notoriety for a training ground boycott in protest at the decision by the French Football Federation (FFF) to send home Nicolas Anelka following a bust-up with coach Raymond Domenech.
Thierry Henry immediately went off to a meeting he had requested with France president Nicolas Sarkozy and Evra has now revealed the rest of the squad will also be questioned by politicians.
"An investigation will be opened by the ministry and all the players will be heard," he told TF1. "Each one of us will say what they experienced and will say the truth.
"Everyone will give some information from each angle and all sides."
Following France's exit Evra promised to spill all the details of their troubled time in South Africa.
However, he insists it is still not the time for his potentially explosive revelations.
"It's not the time to stoke up the pain of all the French people," he continued. "It's not today that you have to attack whoever it may be.
"No-one is clear-headed enough to say what really happened because the scar is still open and we are all hurting at the present time.
"We are all upset and beaten, but we have to lift our heads up and look to the future."
Evra also admitted the squad were wrong to boycott training but insisted the whole squad felt it necessary at the time.
He continued: "It was a clumsy gesture and we apologised for it. But let it be clear: it was a group decision.
"When there was this moment of hesitation where any one of us could have got off the bus, the group remained united, no-one wanted to get off and I tell you that with total honesty and I hope that everyone remains honest.
"We regretted the impact it had. But we were in such a state that sometimes, for love, you can do clumsy gestures."
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Henry was more forthcoming in an interview to Canal+ shortly afterwards.
The France veteran admitted he felt "isolated" in the squad and spoke of a "sickness" at the heart of the World Cup camp.
"I could have been the older brother but I wasn't anymore," said Henry. "I felt isolated, it doesn't matter who by.
"They didn't talk to me as they used to. Before they talked to me more. But when you don't have credibility in a group any more it becomes difficult.
"I felt isolated and at a certain point, your pride takes a hit."
Henry believes the Anelka controversy was not the reason behind France's exit but rather the rot had already set in.
However, the Barcelona striker insists the squad were always united.
"I don't know whether the Anelka matter was the triggering factor," continued Henry. "There was certainly a sickness.
"But I don't think you can talk of clans. I can tell you that I never saw any fights, I didn't see anyone put any pressure on whoever.
"Decisions were group ones.
"The main reason for this fiasco is that we didn't play well.
"Unfortunately we entered into debates, invented stories...
"But we shouldn't look the other way. We weren't good enough.
"When a team wins everything can happen, when there are defeats doubt comes in and stories start getting invented."
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Henry played down the rift between Anelka and Domenech, which occurred during half-time of France's 2-0 defeat to Mexico, insisting that the Chelsea striker's outburst was not as vitriolic as has been made out.
"That's not what he said," added Henry. "It's up to him to say what he did say. But all I can say is that those were not Nico's words.
"These things happen in dressing rooms. What made the difference is that it came out.
"I was in the dressing room, I didn't hear what he was saying. He was grumbling. What hit me is that the person who told the journalist, how could he have heard what Nicolas said?
"I couldn't hear what he said but I know what he said."
Anelka's sudden expulsion from the France squad saw the players refuse to get off the bus and train on Sunday, in a show of support for their vanquished team-mate
Henry agreed with Evra that the players were perhaps rash to strike but, like his captain, claims they felt they had little choice.
The former Arsenal player said: "The decision was made well before the bus. At the time it was unanimous. Nobody put pressure on anyone.
"We had to show our support for Nico because it wasn't what he said.
"We knew that he was going to be sent home the next day, without consulting us. They could have talked to him, suspend him from the rest of the World Cup but let him stay with the team.
"But to send him home like that! I had the story of the handball, I was all alone, and I know what that's like.
"We couldn't leave a team-mate like that.
"With hindsight, when you look at the consequences you could say it was an error."
Henry, France's record goalscorer and second most capped player with 51 goals in 123 appearances, remained tight-lipped on his meeting with Sarkozy, saying only: "It went very well."
Domenech was already on his way before the World Cup with Laurent Blanc to be announced as his replacement shortly.
However, the ramifications are likely to be plentiful and lengthy.
And Henry, whose handball in their play-off victory against the Republic of Ireland sent Les Bleus to South Africa, admits perhaps justice has been served.
He said: "They always say you get what you deserve..."
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