Captain Patrice Evra promised on Tuesday to reveal what he says is the truth behind France's chaotic World Cup campaign which ended as ignominiously as it began.

While even fans back home welcomed the team's early exit following a 2-1 group loss to hosts South Africa on Tuesday, Evra pledged to give his side of the players' dispute with embattled coach Raymond Domenech.

The skipper also pledged his team would not claim World Cup bonuses owed to them from lucrative marketing deals.

"I share the pain of all France. Tonight is the time for apologies. It's an apology that could have been made yesterday, but I was banned from doing so by the coach," said Evra, seen as a key figure in the players' strike when they refused to train on Sunday in protest at the expulsion of teammate Nicolas Anelka.

His part in that national humiliation was punished when Domenech dropped him for the South Africa match.

"Now is not the time to settle scores," said Manchester United defender Evra.

"All of France will have the time to have explanations for this disaster. I will give them. I will tell the truth. I have nothing to hide."

Following a scoreless draw with Uruguay and a 2-0 loss to Mexico in their other matches, France return home with one point, one goal and the unofficial tag of world football laughing stock.

Domenech remained controversial to the end, refusing to shake the hand of South Africa's coach Carlos Alberto Parreira after the match then refusing to explain why to reporters.

"I have no intention of replying to this question," he said.

Parreira said one of Domenech's assistants told him it was because of negative comments made after the blatant Thierry Henry handball to set up the goal against Republic of Ireland that put France into the World Cup finals.

Domenech remained defiant though, saying he was proud of his team in spite of their poor result.

"They showed real heart, real fight, real generosity of spirit out there today, it is what I was looking for" said 58-year-old Domenech.

"I love the France team. It will not die, it will continue forever. It has all the ingredients to succeed," he said.

But Evra is aware of the home public's fury and moved to temper it.

"We will not accept a single cent from sponsors. We will refuse all the bonuses," said Evra.

According to the agreement signed with the French Football Federation (FFF) the players would not receive any extra money for failing to reach the second round, but were liable to benefit from lucrative marketing revenues generated by the squad.

Evra refused to admit that the strike on Sunday - described as "unspeakably stupid" by Domenech - had been a mistake.

It followed the national federation's decision to send home striker Anelka for a foul-mouthed rant at Domenech after the coach took issue with his first-half performance against Mexico.

"Our pain wasn't exaggerated. We communicated our reasons for what happened," Evra said.

"Tonight I was dropped from the team without a valid reason. These are difficult times."

Sympathy for the French was in decidedly short supply in Ireland, where fans still feel cheated by the way France qualified ahead of them.

"They really, really performed badly," said Republic of Ireland assistant manager Liam Brady.

"As well as playing badly, they've behaved badly and they come home in disgrace really. And the French Federation, it is a huge embarrassment to them."

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