From Villian To Motivator;- Evra Inspires French Comeback!

French Football Federation (FFF) president Noel Le Graet has praised Patrice Evra's for his half-time speech with Les Bleu's team mates in Tuesday's world cup qualifier against Belarus.

France who were trailing 1-0 at half-time during the crucial world cup qualifiers, were subjected to a heated speech from the last season's Man Utd's stand in captain. Hence the visitors turned on the heat on the home team as they went on to score four second half goals with the scores ending 2-4.

Le Graet said Yesterday: "I was not there,however I heard that Evra,even if he was not in the starting line-up,was very close to his team-mates at the half-time break and spoke to them,"

"He reassured them, which is the most important thing in these moments.

"Then,Didier (Deschamps)[French head Coach]changed the system after the break." 

Patrice Evra is said to have dished out really harsh words and Frank Riberry made it clear there were not many nice words involved.

The current UEFA best player in Europe said after the match:

"We had a real talking to from Patrice Evra at half-time which did everyone a lot of good,"

"It was a man's speech.

"He told us that if we wanted to make second place,we had to show a different face."

The win in Belarus ensured France will at least finish second in UEFA's Group I of World Cup qualifying, which will earn them a berth in a two-legged play-off versus one of the other second-placed teams in European qualifying.

The team talk from the Manchester United man also underlined the guidance provided by Evra, who goalkeeper Hugo Lloris also called 'a real leader'.

Patrice Evra's misdemeanor with the French National team has been well documented, During the 2010 world cup in South Africa, The 32 year old led a player protest in which the French players refused to train and prior to the revolt, he had got into a verbal argument with national team fitness coach Robert Duverne. Following the competition, former national team captain Lilian Thuram stated that Evra should be banned permanently from playing for the national team. His sentiments were later echoed by sports minister Chantal Jouanno who declared "I have nothing against Evra but, as a France player and especially captain, he did not defend the values of sport which are shared by the Republic. I am sure there exist other talents who have not sullied France and are waiting for the chance to write new history".

Evra was later banned for 5 matches but the FFF President Le Graet [FFF president] described Evra as 'a great man' and blamed 'so-called sports specialists' for the United defender's reputation as a "troublemaker".

"Apart from what happened a few years ago,we know Evra loves the national team," Le Graet added

"He is a winner. He is a regular with Manchester United. He captained the team as well.

"It's nothing. He just has this bad reputation,aggravated by some so-called sports specialists but he is a great man.

"He has the national team in his blood and he wants to do well."