Chelsea midfielder Emmanuel Petit has quit the France national team afterfalling out with coach Jacques Santini.
Petit, assured a glorious place in French football history as the scorer of the third goal in France's 1998 World Cup final win over Brazil, told L'Equipehis relationship with Santini had broken down.
He said: "I know that when I am at peak fitness I am worth my place in the France team or at least in the squad. I took the decision against my own heart but it seemed the best thing to do. I sense that the French team is not led by the man it needs."
Santini has all but qualified Les Bleus for Euro 2004 and won the Confederations Cup in his year-long tenure in the job.
Filed by Ciaran Cronin
