KNYSNA (AFP) Raymond Domenech may be praying for a miracle for France to progress to the second round of the World Cup, but events off the pitch appear to be spiralling out of control so fast that not even a miracle will suffice. The underlying philosophy of the squad 'the group is a happy solid one had been questioned in several reports throughout the tournament, all of which had been flatly denied, but Saturdays revelations exposed it publicly as a fraud. Sports daily LEquipe claimed that striker Nicolas Anelka told Domenech to go screw yourself, dirty son of a whore in the dressing room at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane after the coach took issue with his first-half performance against Mexico on Thursday. If true it will further poison the atmosphere ahead of their final Group A match against hosts South Africa whom they must beat handsomely and hope the Uruguay Mexico clash doesnt end in a draw. The claims appear to have rocked an already unsteady boat, Domenech looking distinctly uneasy and struggling for words in his Thursday video broadcast and on Saturday abruptly cancelled a live interview on French midday news on TF1. The French also then delayed their press conference which is meant to be fronted by Domenech. Whilst there was no official statement from within the camp regarding the allegations, Frances Minister of Health and Sports Roselyne Bachelot issued her own, without singling out the troublesome Anelka, who apparently is one of her favourite players. The extreme pressure weighing on the 'Blues does not permit for anyone going off the rails, read the statement of Bachelot, who was in the stands for the 2-0 defeat by Mexico and stayed the night at their hotel. The players must remember they are donning the French shirt and that they are considered as role models by a lot of young people. That obliges them to maintain their reserve and dignity. It is not the first time that Anelka has stepped out of line - saying in 2003 that the French selectors would have to get down on their knees to him if he was to return. Then on Domenechs arrival in 2004 he said that even if there were 60,000 injuries he wouldnt get the nod from the coach. For former France coach Michel Hidalgo it should be the end for Anelka. The insult of Anelkas is despicable, said Hidalgo, who guided France to the Euro 84 title and to the 1982 World Cup semi-finals. He must never again wear the France shirt. In my opinion, he will never wear it again. Another former national coach Gerard Houllier concurred. It is for the coach to say: 'You pack your bags and you go home. If I was in charge, that is what I would do. Honestly, I was really shocked. Christian Teinturier, vice-president of the French Football Federation (FFF), was adamant that if the claims were true then 31-year-old Anelkas international career was also at an end. He should have thrown out immediately, or apologised. Nevertheless he must never again don the French shirt, whether it be in training or on the pitch. Of the mooted discord within the camp, only Lyons Jeremy Toulalan has raised his head above the parapet. We are a squad and within such an entity we are not compelled to be the best of friends. Personally I am not going to refrain from passing the ball to someone because I dont like them. But if certain of them function like that, it is difficult.