The France squad boarded their plane to Paris on Tuesday, facing a growing national backlash after one of the most farcical campaigns in World Cup history.

French football federation president Jean-Pierre Escalettes said that France's World Cup debacle has destroyed "50 years of values" and the national team's wild antics brought "shame" upon the country.

Team captain Patrice Evra took a parting shot at coach Raymond Domench, claiming that he had denied him the chance to apologise to French fans for the team's World Cup debacle, and removed him from the team to play South Africa for "no valid reason."

France, who lifted the World Cup in 1998, were knocked out of the tournament earlier today, after a 2-1 loss to South Africa left them bottom of Group A.

Their campaign had been dogged by squad unrest and tensions between the players and management which result in Nicolas Anelka being sent home, the team director's resignation and the squad refusing to train.

Evra said: "Tonight it's time for the big apology towards the thousands of French people, because I share the pain of all these French people.

"What hurts even more is that this apology should have been made yesterday, but my coach stopped me doing it as a captain, and that hurts even more. But it won't change anything, now is not the time to settle scores.

"I think that the time is for suffering, and it is a sincere suffering.

"The whole of France needs to have an explanation for this disaster. It's not the time to give them, but I will personally give them ... what I went through, just the truth, as quickly as possible, whether it's in a press conference or an interview.

"I have nothing to hide. The French team doesn't belong to anyone, it belongs to all of these French people.

"People need to know the truth, the causes of this enormous disaster."

Tonight the French team left South Africa on a chartered plane booked three days ago by the French football federation, who feared an early World Cup exit.

The national anger is set to continue on the squad's return to France, with Sports Minister Roselyne Bachelot planning to hold a full inquiry into the humiliating campaign.