Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri has been left out of France's 23-man squad for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil next month.
Although the 26-year-old played a big role in France's second leg comeback against Ukraine in the World Cup play-offs, Les Bleus coach Didier Deschamps believes that the former Arsenal man will not be able to bring in his excellent club form to the national team.
"We're talking about a player of great quality. But Samir has had some performances in the French national team that aren't at the same level of those with City. He's an important player at City, which is not the case in the national team. He has said himself that he's not happy when he's a substitute. You can see that, and feel that within the squad. That's the three reasons why I didn't pick him," ESPN quoted Deschamps.
Monaco defender Eric Abidal, who was certain to participate in the 2014 World Cup, has also been left out by Deschamps after the 34-year-old's form seemed to dip in the final quarter of the season.
The 45-year-old manager has opted to go for an inexperienced Eliaquim Mangala (Porto) on the pretext of giving him some exposure before the 2016 Euopean Championships, which will be held at France.
"All decisions are difficult, and it was even more difficult with Abi. He was in full form last year. I told him that if I had brought him back it was to play an important role, to be in the starting XI. His displays of late were not as good as those at the start of the season. I prefer to have a younger player to prepare for the experiences that will come after the World Cup," added Deschamps.
Although Deschamps was expected to announce his final 23-man squad on 2 June, the former Marseille boss says that he chose to make his final selection to improve the team chemistry before the World Cup.
"I have always been convinced that the best solution was to give a list of 23 from the start to create team spirit, not insecurity. When you have 30, you have 15 who are worried that they might not stay. I don't dream, I'm realistic, which doesn't stop me being ambitious. After the defeat in Ukraine, many didn't see us going to Brazil. Now they see us winning it. The most important thing is June 15, the first game against Honduras. We have to win it," added the former Juventus boss.
Here is the 23-man France squad for the 2014 World Cup:
Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur), Steve Mandanda (Marseille), Mickael Landreau (Bastia)
Defenders: Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal), Mamadou Sakho (Liverpool), Raphael Varane (Real Madrid), Eliaquim Mangala (Porto), Mathieu Debuchy (Newcastle United), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), Lucas Digne (Paris Saint-Germain)
Midfielders: Rio Mavuba (Lille), Mathieu Valbuena (Marseille), Yohan Cabaye (Paris Saint-Germain), Blaise Matuidi (Paris Saint-Germain), Paul Pogba (Juventus), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich), Clement Grenier (Lyon), Moussa Sissoko (Newcastle United)
Forwards: Olivier Giroud (Arsenal), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Antoine Griezmann (Real Sociedad), Loic Remy (Newcastle United)
