The critics have been silenced. This year's World Cup is finally serving up its customary daily dose of drama after a low-key start to the tournament.

France's fall from grace, a glut of goals and red cards and the exploits of Serbia and New Zealand are just some of the talking points to have emerged from the second and third group games over in South Africa.

The main focus of attention has centred on France and a simply staggering chain of events that has led to the one-time winners crashing out of the competition in farcical fashion.

Defeats to Mexico and the host nation ultimately sealed their fate, but the torrid run of results only tells half of the sorry story for Les Bleus.

Striker Nicolas Anelka was sent home after refusing to apologise for his half-time rant at coach Raymond Domenech during the Mexico game, Patrice Evra accused a "traitor" within the France camp of trying to destabilise the squad by leaking information to the media and the players skipped training in support of the departed Chelsea star.

Evra and fitness coach Robert Duverne also had a public spat and rumours emerged of a possible player boycott for the South Africa clash. Evra himself was dropped for that particular game for the part he played in the revolt.

A 2-1 loss in the final Group A game then completed a miserable World Cup campaign that also brought to end Raymond Domenech's tenure in charge of the national team.

"I have had a splendid adventure for the last six years, good times and bad times," said Domenech. "It is impossible to summarise at the moment what has happened.

"I cannot analyse things yet. I am not concerned about myself only the French team and its future."

Florent Malouda, who was on target against South Africa, said: "Our behaviour wasn't exemplary. I want to apologise to the fans on behalf of the players."

Evra is now planning to give his version of events in the coming days as French football prepares itself for the scandal to rumble on.

"It's not the time now for the settling of scores, it's the time now for apologising and for feeling all the suffering that the millions of French are feeling," he said.

"This apology goes directly to them. I'm not going to go into details; I'll give a press conference during the week.

"I really respect the suffering the French are feeling at this failure.

"They need to know the truth; they need to know exactly what happened that this disaster came about.

"People will know how we came to this point. But I didn't come here to say that now, I came to say sorry."

While France struggled, Serbia and New Zealand basked in the glory of impressive results against Germany and Italy respectively.

Milan Jovanovic scored the only goal as Serbia beat Germany, much to the delight of coach Radomir Antic.

Antic said: "This is a victory for our people, who for sure will know how to celebrate it.

"This team represents its people because it is energetic, it is ready to fight and to a certain extent, it is arrogant.

"What is certain is that Serbian people have recognised themselves in this team, so this is a victory dedicated to the Serbian people."

New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert, meanwhile, celebrated one of the greatest results in his country's sporting history after holding world champions Italy to a draw.

"I think it has stopped the nation," beamed Herbert. "I think it is the most incredible result we've had.

"It's more than anything we have achieved in the history of the game. I think it will be embraced enormously.

"A lot of people felt we shouldn't be in the World Cup or felt the way we qualified was easy. You can write your stories now.

"I don't think anyone remotely gave us a chance. We are doing okay for a team that supposedly has some amateurs and shouldn't be in the World Cup."

Portugal produced the most accomplished team performance of the tournament to date with a 7-0 thrashing of North Korea.

"It is a great day for Portugal and Portuguese football, to score seven goals," hailed Carlos Queiroz.

"We have to be more ambitious for the next phase."- PA Sport