Former France Defender Philippe Mexès Admitted to Faking Injuries to Avoid National Team Call-Ups
PARIS – Philippe Mexès, a former central defender for the French national team, revealed he deliberately feigned injuries to avoid selection, particularly during the tenure of coach raymond Domenech. The admission came during an appearance on the Kampo podcast.
Mexès, first called up to Les Bleus at age 20 during a rebuilding phase following the 2002 World Cup-receiving his initial summons for a match against Malta on October 22, 2002-described feeling overwhelmed adn out of place. “My first selection was in Cyprus…when I return, there is Zidane on the field. I don’t totally realize it. It’s a dream that I’m realizing, so I was paralyzed. I don’t know where to put myself, I don’t know who I am.I wonder what I’m doing hear,” he recounted.
Despite his talent, Mexès didn’t become a regular starter untill 2012 under coach Laurent Blanc, facing competition from established players like Marcel Desailly, Lilian Thuram, and william Gallas. However, his strained relationship with Domenech, which began during their time together with the France Espoirs (under-21) team, proved a notable obstacle.
“I wanted to come home, I didn’t want to come to the French team. Already in Hopes, I didn’t want to go there when there was Raymond,” Mexès stated. He felt he was selected due to external pressure, stating, “he took me because he had to take me…because people said ‘this is the future laurent Blanc and whatnot’.But he didn’t want to take me.”
This discomfort led him to fabricate ailments. “I was acting injured. I said, ‘It hurts here.’ no, I wasn’t well,” Mexès confessed.He even expressed relief at being one of six players cut from the squad ahead of the 2006 World Cup, believing others were more deserving of a place. “There was someone better than me. I had nothing to do there. I don’t actually believe it…I didn’t feel well.”
Mexès openly criticized Domenech’s coaching beliefs, stating, “I couldn’t see him, whether in the Espoirs or in the French team, I never liked him…’The ram doesn’t play with the scorpion, the scorpion doesn’t play with the bull…’ For me, it’s not football, we’re not in the theater.”
