Reports of Nicolas Anelka's expletive-filled tirade at coach Raymond Domenech has highlighted mounting tension within France's World Cup squad. French sports daily L'Equipe reported Saturday that Anelka insulted Domenech at half time during France's 2-0 loss to Mexico on Thursday when the coach offered him some tactical advice. L'Equipe said that Domenech snapped after being insulted by Anelka, who was then replaced by Andre-Pierre Gignac. Anelka was snubbed by Domenech four years ago when he did not make the World Cup squad, even when striker Djibril Cisse was injured on the eve of the team's departure to Germany. Domenech took Sidney Govou instead in 2006. But the Chelsea striker was a starter in all the warmup matches before this World Cup, and he also started France's opening match, which finished 0-0 against Uruguay. The latest reports of a rift follow newspaper allegations that midfielder Yoann Gourcuff is an unpopular figure in the squad and that defender William Gallas is upset with Domenech for giving the captain's armband to Patrice Evra. Calls made to the France team's press officer seeking comment on the reported bust-up between Anelka and Domenech were not immediately returned. Only a handful of French players spoke to the press after the Mexico defeat left the French staring at possible elimination. France needs to beat South Africa convincingly on Tuesday, and hope Mexico and Uruguay don't draw their final game, to have any chance of qualifying for the second round. 'We deserve the criticism,' France midfielder Jeremy Toulalan said Friday. 'Despite what was said, I think there were a lot of supporters who had hope. We owe it to ourselves to fight for these people.' Gallas is refusing to speak to reporters for the duration of the competition, while Franck Ribery, Anelka and Thierry Henry -- all mainstays of the team -- have also not spoken so far. Toulalan, one of only a few players to speak after the Mexico match, fears that the team is now a collection of individual talents with no teamwork whatsoever. Toulalan added that 'everyone has to do their own self-analysis' and that things will only improve if 'everyone is honest (with themselves) and understands what they did (well) or did not do (well).' Toulalan is close friends with Gourcuff, but he would not be drawn on squabbles within the squad. Some reports have alleged that Gourcuff sometimes eats alone at the dinner table, and that Ribery and Anelka do not like him and pressured Domenech to drop him against Mexico. Gourcuff was replaced by Florent Malouda, and did not play any part in the match. In the opening game against Uruguay, Anelka had a clear chance to pass to the unmarked Gourcuff during the first half but chose not to, prompting an angry reaction from Gourcuff who threw his arms up in the air. Toulalan did say, however, that players should always behave professionally, no matter what their differences. 'We can't all be the best friends in the world,' Toulalan said. 'But there's no way I'm going to go out on the pitch with the idea that I'm not going to pass to this player or that player.' Gourcuff said after the Mexico defeat that he was being made a scapegoat for the team's inability to score goals. 'It has been a collective failure over the two games. Football is hard when you can't play together,' Gourcuff said. 'Perhaps I have paid the price, I don't know. I've not had any explanations.' 