Turning into a Cup of discontent

Germany faces possibly its earliest exit yet in the 80-year history of the Fifa Soccer World Cup. South Africa could become the first host nation to exit at the end of the first round, and British supporters fear that England may join Germany at the airport – its earliest departure from the global showpiece since 1958.

But the poor performances by celebrated teams, including Spain – the much fancied favourite to lift the Cup – were overshadowed by widespread revolt among teams.

There was revolt by the French team against its coach; revolt by members of the English team, led by John Terry, against Fabio Capello, the much criticised manager; and also dissent among members of Bafana Bafana over the playing style of national coach, Carlos Alberto Parreira.

England team's politics

Capello was back in charge of England's World Cup campaign on Monday after a player revolt launched by Terry had fizzled out, two days before a decisive meeting with Slovenia, reported SuperSport.

Terry had challenged Capello's authority by promising to air a string of grievances at a squad meeting on Sunday evening, even if that meant upsetting the Italian.

If it had been intended as a coup, it proved to be an abortive one.

It emerged on Monday that Terry did not utter a single word at a meeting which was, according to his Chelsea teammate Frank Lampard, exclusively dedicated to Capello's dissection of what went wrong in the goalless draw with Algeria.

In a typically accomplished performance in front of the world's media, Lampard smoothed over the cracks that have appeared as a result of England's stuttering start to the tournament, suggesting his teammate's comments had been misinterpreted.

"I've not read the reports, but from what I hear, I think it has been completely overdone in terms of crisis meeting and things like that," Lampard said.

"I don't know if John backed off. The meeting was the manager dealing with the Algeria game, and we moved on.

"I'm not going to say John said this and the manager said that. I've had enough of people trying to make out there are different factions in the camp," he added.

"The Algeria game had to be addressed and it was not nice viewing."

"There was no rebel gang," Lampard told SuperSport. "The media have to report it honestly and at the end of the day, it was the lads sitting there talking about the Algeria game. The fact it has become about rebels just baffles me, honestly."

Whatever the exact truth, it seems clear that Terry has been prevailed upon not to rock the boat anymore ahead of the meeting with Group C leader Slovenia in Port Elizabeth.

That is a match England must win to ensure it avoids its earliest exit from a World Cup since 1958.

Bafana’s last chance

Bafana Bafana coach Parreira will throw caution to the wind and go for broke in the match against France in the team's final Group A match at the Free State Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.

The Bafana Bafana mentor revealed before the match that he would make five changes to the squad that lost 3-0 to Uruguay last week, but kept his cards close to the chest, refusing to even hint at who the changes are, explaining that the changes will only be made public on match day, as he still wanted to discuss them with his players first.

Some players have apparently been critical of Parreira’s approach of only using one striker upfront, leaving the South African team very one dimensional when attacking.

If Bafana Bafana fail to win by at least 3-0, and Uruguay and Mexico draw their match, the hosts will be eliminated in the first round. This would be the first time ever that the host nation does not reach the round of 16 at a World Cup.

Three-time World Cup winner Germany will be staring its first ever group exit in the face when it takes on Ghana on Wednesday, but the players are shutting out any thoughts of a "disgrace", they said on Monday.

Germany, on three points, must win its final Group D match against the Africans – who top the group on four points – to guarantee its advance to the next round.

A defeat or draw could see Germany eliminated in the group stages for the first

time in the tournament's 80-year history.

French revolution

Meanwhile, the French Minister for Health and Sports Roselyne Bachelot is scheduled to meet France’s captain Patrice Evra and coach Raymond Domenech as well as the head of the French Football Federation Jean-Pierre Escalettes, to attempt to rescue the French World Cup campaign.

She was asked by French President Nicolas Sarkozy to extend her stay in South Africa to try and mediate peace in the French squad, as the situation was developing into a full-blown national embarrassment for the country.

The French team appears to be in disarray after players refused to train in protest against the federation’s decision to send home Nicolas Anelka for an expletive-riddled rant at Domenech in half-time during France’s 2-0 loss to Mexico last Thursday.