They were crying in France, and screaming, and shouting, hurling insults, threats and pleas at their national football team. Proud France was/is in danger of being booted out of the World Cup competition. Not since the 25th of October 1415 at Agincourt has France faced the possibility of such -- "Shame, and eternal shame, nothing but shame."

The President of the Republic of France has spoken for all the French, when he warned the team that this fiasco is "unacceptable." French newspaper Le Parisien condemned the team and its coach for tarnishing French soccer in the eyes of the world and referring to the team's mutiny, refusal to train and practice, and its performance on the field as "the Waterloo" of French soccer.

So the team has rallied to the call of their countrymen, to train and to practice, to meet the host national team, the South Africans, on the field today. Both France and South Africa face being booted from the completion. Both teams need a win. France should be the favored to win. South Africa's best hope is that the French continue their internal strife and continue to fall apart.

My hope? Come on. Go South Africa. Win.