Arrogant French have already booked their World Cup hideaway
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The French team have already booked their hotel and training camp in South Africa for the World Cup, the Herald can exclusively reveal.
Raymond Domenech's side pre-booked a base in Mauritius in the Indian Ocean as a World Cup warm-up venue more than a month ago.
The latest show of arrogance from the French was revealed to an Irish honeymooner on the holiday Island.
The four-star Legends Hotel confirmed that the French team had booked in for the summer of 2010.
"I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Obviously the French gave us no chance of turning them over," Kildare man JP Byrne said.
The Herald contacted the hotel in question and they confirmed that a team had pre-booked their hotel in advance of the World Cup.
Several other sides are looking to avail of their facilities in preparation for South Africa. Apparently the English FA have made contact with the Mauritian Football Authorities with a view to setting up there, Italy and Australia have also expressed interest.
The isolated island of Mauritius would suit the French set-up down to the ground as they would be best able to deal with their outlandish demands.
This latest revelation will add further tension to a game already mired in controversy following the slur from Lassana Diarra at the end of the game on Saturday night.
Jeering
French midfielder Diarra was accused of jeering at Irish midfielder Keith Andrews, saying: "F**k you, you Irish pr**k, you're out."
The comments drew an angry reaction from the Irish players and has set up a fiery second leg tomorrow night.
Andrews said it typified the French attitude on the night and the fact that they have completely disregarded the Irish threat by preparing for next summer's tournament will hopefully draw a response from the Irish.
hnews@herald.ie
- Cormac Byrne
