Sports Nasri, Clichy left out of France World Cup Squad

[Babalola Oluwatomiwa]

France manager Didier #Deschamps has released his side's 23-man squad for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, but Samir #Nasri who played a pivotal role in Manchester City's Premier League title win was omitted from the team.

Nasri was excluded from the list for his penchant of causing trouble and he also had a disappointing outing in Les Bleus' playoff first leg against Ukraine last year.

Missing out as well in the squad is #Monaco's Eric #Abidal, who has not been played well by Claudio #Ranieri at Monaco during the second part of the season,and was been deemed not good enough to travel to Brazil.

And since he could not make it to the world cup this year, the 34-year old player has retired from international football to concentrate on club football till the end of his career.

"Samir is an important player for Manchester City but he has not performed that well with France," Deschamps told French TV channel TF1.

"He is a starter at City, which is not the case with France and he has made clear that he is not happy when he is not (a starter), and I can tell you it can be felt in the squad.

"I built the best squad, I did not pick the 23 best French players."

Also left out was City's fullback Gael Clichy, who was at the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 but Deschamps instead picked the talented yet inexperienced Lucas Digne of Paris St Germain.

In Brazil, #Deschamps will rely on Bayern Munich winger Franck #Ribery, who with Mathieu Valbuena should support Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema.

The seven standby players, which includes Southampton's Morgan #Schneiderlin, will be with the squad until May 28.

Full Squad:

Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur), Steve Mandanda (Olympique Marseille), Mickael Landreau(Bastia)

Defenders: Mathieu Debuchy (Newcastle United), Lucas Digne (Paris St Germain) Patrice Evra (Manchester United), Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal), Eliaquim Mangala (Porto), Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Mamadou Sakho(Liverpool), Raphael Varane (Real Madrid)

Midfielders: Yohan #Cabaye (Paris St Germain), Clement Grenier (Olympique Lyon), Blaise Matuidi (Paris St Germain), Rio Mavuba (Lille), Paul Pogba (Juventus), Moussa Sissoko (Newcastle United), Mathieu Valbuena(Olympique Marseille)

Forwards: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Olivier Giroud (Arsenal), Antoine Griezmann (Real Sociedad), Loic Remy (Newcaste United), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich)

Standby players: Stephane Ruffier (Monaco), Loic Perrin (St Etienne), Maxime Gonalons (Olympique Lyon), Morgan Schneiderlin (Southampton), Benoit Tremoulinas (Dynamo Kiev), Alexandre Lacazette (Olympique Lyon)


Photo Credit: Wikipedia