Tensions in Laurent Blanc’s France team boiled over after Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat to Sweden, as players clashed in the dressing room after the match, according to reports published Wednesday in The Guardian. The new French manager affirmed specifically that “Yes, it got a bit heated, but then everyone had a cold shower. It shows that there was a bit of electricity. I hope there will be against Spain, because we’ll need it.” 

France made an early and ungraceful exit from the 2010 World Cup after players mutinied against former coach Raymond Domenech. Blanc was hired to rebuild the team with new players and to reimpose order and discipline in the squad. He will face his biggest test as manager so far when he faces Spain on June 23 with a place in the semi-finals at stake.

Image: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty