Gallas out of France training with sore muscle

Johannesburg: Centre back William Gallas pulled out of a France training session on Monday with a sore muscle, a team spokesman said.

Gallas, who had been a doubtful starter for the World Cup because of a calf injury but played in France`s opening 0-0 draw with Uruguay on Friday, left accompanied by a team physiotherapist with 20 minutes left in the 60-minute session."It`s a muscle problem, nothing serious," the spokesman said without elaborating. Cedric Carrasso, France`s number three keeper, did not take part in the session at the team`s base in Knysna, Western Cape, because of a pulled left thigh muscle, the spokesman said. France staged a public session for the first time since they arrived in South Africa and had distributed 400 invitations but only around 100 supporters turned up on a rainy day in this seaside resort. After training on a waterlogged pitch inside the boundaries of their luxury hotel, the players went straight back into their bus without stopping to sign autographs. The 1998 champions, whose popularity has hit a low after their Euro 2008 flop and the uninspired performances that followed, have a real problem with their fans and did nothing to address it on Monday, a supporter said."I was at Euro 2008 and they are making the same mistakes again," said the fan, Benoit Oudin, from Auxerre. "We would like to join the party but they`re closing the door on us." France next play Mexico on Thursday in Polokwane. They will also face hosts South Africa in Group A. Bureau Report