BLOEMFONTEIN, (Reuters) – A players’ revolution,  which has torn France’s World Cup squad apart and angered the French president, escalated yesterday after some indicated they might not play in a match which could save their campaign.

A government minister, dispatched to address the warring parties over a crisis which has engulfed France, said the players’ revolt over the expulsion of a colleague who abused the coach, had tarnished the image of the entire nation.

Beleaguered coach Raymond Domenech said yesterday he faced a selection headache before his side’s final Group A game against South Africa because not all the members of his squad might be willing to take to the field today in Bloemfontein.

The match is a game the team must win if it is to maintain any hopes of progressing in the tournament.

“It is a possibility,” said Domenech, who has faced a  rebellion from his players over the past 48 hours, when asked whether some players could be reluctant to appear.

“We will have to take it into account when I compose the team with my staff,” the 58-year-old told a packed news conference tent outside the Free State stadium.

One of the players missing from Domenech’s starting lineup could be captain Patrice Evra, who did not attend the pre-match news conference that normally features both the coach and the skipper.

That could be an indication that Evra, who led the players’ protest against the French Football Federation’s (FFF) decision to kick striker Nicolas Anelka out of the squad after he crudely insulted Domenech at halftime of a 2-0 defeat by Mexico last  week, might not play.