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Bacary Sagna: 'France squad disputes were avoidable'

Sagna: 'France squad disputes were avoidable'
© PA Photos
Bacary Sagna has claimed that France's regrettable behaviour is to blame for their quarter-final exit from Euro 2012.

France full-back Bacary Sagna believes that his nation only have themselves to blame for a quarter-final exit at Euro 2012.

The Arsenal defender claims that rifts within the camp could have been avoided and regrets the bad image that the squad have been left with.

Before the tournament France were tipped to do well in the tournament having come off a 21-match unbeaten run.

However unrest within the squad is starting to become a recurring theme, as the players famously refused to train at the 2010 World Cup as a result of Nicolas Anelka's exclusion.

"It's a shame. We had the potential to go further," the Gunners defender told L'Equipe.

"People would take me for a madman for saying that, but I saw a team that could go to the final. I had faith in them."

"I was especially p****d off to hear the stories going around. That's regrettable - in the end it gives a bad image of us, the team, and the press for no reason. It's a waste of a competition. Everything was avoidable."

The 29 year-old defender, who has been capped 32 times by his country, was unavailable for selection for Euro 2012 after breaking his leg for the second time in one season against Norwich City in May.

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