President Nicolas Sarkozy held a face-to-face meeting with Thierry Henry today after Les Bleus' humiliating exit from the World Cup turned into a national issue the government has vowed to address.
Mr Sarkozy called yesterday for a wholesale review of French soccer after chairing a government meeting.
France's campaign, marred by infighting and the boycott of a training session, ended on Tuesday with a 2-1 defeat by hosts South Africa that left them bottom of Group A without a win.
The president was reportedly furious about the damage caused to France's reputation by the tragicomedy of the past week. He was quoted in yesterday's Canard Enchaîné telling colleagues: "It is a political problem. When the whole world is laughing at us, it goes beyond sport."
The meeting between Mr Sarkozy and the French striker was arranged after the player asked for an opportunity to give the squad's version of events, a government spokesman said.
Henry, who has 123 caps to his name and is France's most prolific scorer with 51 goals, went straight to the Elysée Palace in an official car escorted by the police after the team landed at Paris Le Bourget business airport.
He entered the presidential palace through a side door far from the photographers and cameramen who were waiting for him at the main entrance.
Sports minister Roselyne Bachelot said today "the resignation of French Federation chairman, Jean-Pierre Escalettes was unavoidable".