Thierry Henry said he felt isolated within the France squad.

Thierry Henry admitted he felt "isolated" in the French World Cup squad and spoke of a "sickness" at the heart of the camp.

The squad flew back from South Africa yesterday following a dismal performance where they mustered a solitary point from three games and gained notoriety for a training ground boycott in protest at the decision by the French Football Federation (FFF) to send home Nicolas Anelka following a bust-up with the coach, Raymond Domenech.

"I could have been the older brother but I wasn't any more," Henry told Canal+. "I felt isolated, it doesn't matter who by. They didn't talk to me as they used to. Before they talked to me more. But when you don't have credibility in a group any more it becomes difficult.

"I felt isolated and at a certain point your pride takes a hit."

Henry believes the Anelka controversy was not the reason behind France's exit but rather the rot had already set in. However, the Barcelona striker claims the squad were always united.

"I don't know whether the Anelka matter was the triggering factor," said Henry. "There was certainly a sickness. But I don't think you can talk of clans. I can tell you that I never saw any fights, I didn't see anyone put any pressure on whoever.

"Decisions were group ones. The main reason for this fiasco is that we didn't play well. Unfortunately we entered into debates, invented stories...

"But we shouldn't look the other way. We weren't good enough. When a team wins, everything can happen; when there are defeats, doubt comes in and stories start getting invented."

The France captain, Patrice Evra, is preparing to give evidence to an inquiry opened by the French government into Les Bleus' disastrous World Cup campaign.

"An investigation will be opened by the ministry and all the players will be heard," he told TF1. "Each one of us will say what they experienced and will say the truth. Everyone will give some information from each angle and all sides."

Following France's exit Evra promised to spill all the details of their troubled time in South Africa. However, he says it is still not the time for his potentially explosive revelations.

"It's not the time to stoke up the pain of all the French people," he continued. "It's not today that you have to attack whoever it may be. No one is clear-headed enough to say what really happened because the scar is still open and we are all hurting at the present time.

"We are all upset and beaten but we have to lift our heads up and look to the future."