France World Cup 2014 squad: Samir Nasri and Gaël Clichy left out
Samir Nasri's omission
from France's World Cup squad was explained as a necessary evil by
Didier Deschamps. Photograph: Scott Heavey/Getty Images
Samir Nasri, who was instrumental in helping Manchester City to win the Premier League title, was left out of France's World Cup squad when Didier Deschamps announced a 23-man list plus seven stand-by players.
Nasri's omission prompted a furious Twitter rant against the manager and the country by his girlfriend.
Nasri, who has a reputation of being a troublemaker and was disappointing in France's play-off first leg against Ukraine last year, was a notable absentee along with the defender Eric Abidal. Abidal has been used sparingly by Claudio Ranieri at Monaco during the second part of the season. French radio RMC reported that the 34-year-old is retiring from international football.
"Samir is an important player for Manchester City but he has not performed that well with France," Deschamps said. "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."
A tweet from the account of Nasri's girlfriend, Anara Atanes, said: "Fuck france and fuck deschamps! What a shit manager!" She then repeated the insults before adding: "Lets just get this straight! Im not mad i get my bf for 2 months.... I just think theres a level of respect to be had!"
Nasri was banned for three matches after launching a foul-mouthed rant at a reporter following France's quarter-final defeat by Spain at Euro 2012.
Also left out was Gaël Clichy, who was at the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 but Deschamps instead picked the talented yet inexperienced Lucas Digne of Paris Saint-Germain.
Deschamps' starting lineup in Brazil is likely to feature Franck Ribéry and Mathieu Valbuena supporting the Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema.
In the midfield PSG duo Yohan Cabaye and Blaise Matuidi will be alongside Paul Pogba of Juventus while Deschamps is expected to pick two from Raphaël Varane, Mamadou Sakho and Laurent Koscielny at centre-back.
The stand-by players, who include Southampton's Morgan Schneiderlin, will be with the squad until 28 May.
France will play Switzerland, Ecuador and Honduras in Group E. They will gear up for the World Cup with friendlies against Norway (27 May), Paraguay (1 June) and Jamaica (8 June).
Defenders: Mathieu Debuchy (Newcastle United), Lucas Digne (PSG) Patrice Evra (Manchester United), Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal), Eliaquim Mangala (Porto), Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Mamadou Sakho (Liverpool), Raphaël Varane (Real Madrid)
Midfielders: Yohan Cabaye (PSG), Clément Grenier (Lyon), Blaise Matuidi (PSG), Rio Mavuba (Lille), Paul Pogba (Juventus), Moussa Sissoko (Newcastle), Mathieu Valbuena (Marseille)
Forwards: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Olivier Giroud (Arsenal), Antoine Griezmann (Real Sociedad), Loïc Rémy (Newcastle), Franck Ribéry (Bayern Munich)
Stand-by players: Stéphane Ruffier (Monaco), Loïc Perrin (St Etienne), Maxime Gonalons (Lyon), Morgan Schneiderlin (Southampton), Benoît Trémoulinas (Dynamo Kiev), Alexandre Lacazette (Lyon), Rémy Cabella (Montpellier)
Nasri's omission prompted a furious Twitter rant against the manager and the country by his girlfriend.
Nasri, who has a reputation of being a troublemaker and was disappointing in France's play-off first leg against Ukraine last year, was a notable absentee along with the defender Eric Abidal. Abidal has been used sparingly by Claudio Ranieri at Monaco during the second part of the season. French radio RMC reported that the 34-year-old is retiring from international football.
"Samir is an important player for Manchester City but he has not performed that well with France," Deschamps said. "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."
A tweet from the account of Nasri's girlfriend, Anara Atanes, said: "Fuck france and fuck deschamps! What a shit manager!" She then repeated the insults before adding: "Lets just get this straight! Im not mad i get my bf for 2 months.... I just think theres a level of respect to be had!"
Nasri was banned for three matches after launching a foul-mouthed rant at a reporter following France's quarter-final defeat by Spain at Euro 2012.
Also left out was Gaël Clichy, who was at the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 but Deschamps instead picked the talented yet inexperienced Lucas Digne of Paris Saint-Germain.
Deschamps' starting lineup in Brazil is likely to feature Franck Ribéry and Mathieu Valbuena supporting the Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema.
In the midfield PSG duo Yohan Cabaye and Blaise Matuidi will be alongside Paul Pogba of Juventus while Deschamps is expected to pick two from Raphaël Varane, Mamadou Sakho and Laurent Koscielny at centre-back.
The stand-by players, who include Southampton's Morgan Schneiderlin, will be with the squad until 28 May.
France will play Switzerland, Ecuador and Honduras in Group E. They will gear up for the World Cup with friendlies against Norway (27 May), Paraguay (1 June) and Jamaica (8 June).
The squad
Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham), Steve Mandanda (Marseille), Mickaël Landreau (Bastia)Defenders: Mathieu Debuchy (Newcastle United), Lucas Digne (PSG) Patrice Evra (Manchester United), Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal), Eliaquim Mangala (Porto), Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Mamadou Sakho (Liverpool), Raphaël Varane (Real Madrid)
Midfielders: Yohan Cabaye (PSG), Clément Grenier (Lyon), Blaise Matuidi (PSG), Rio Mavuba (Lille), Paul Pogba (Juventus), Moussa Sissoko (Newcastle), Mathieu Valbuena (Marseille)
Forwards: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Olivier Giroud (Arsenal), Antoine Griezmann (Real Sociedad), Loïc Rémy (Newcastle), Franck Ribéry (Bayern Munich)
Stand-by players: Stéphane Ruffier (Monaco), Loïc Perrin (St Etienne), Maxime Gonalons (Lyon), Morgan Schneiderlin (Southampton), Benoît Trémoulinas (Dynamo Kiev), Alexandre Lacazette (Lyon), Rémy Cabella (Montpellier)
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