Nasri, Clichy dropped from France World Cup squad

Semiu Salami
Semiu Salami

Midfielder Samir Nasri has been left out of France’s World Cup squad, two days after helping Manchester City win the Premier League title.

City team-mate Gael Clichy has also missed out on Didier Deschamps’s squad.

Nine of the 23-man squad play in England, including QPR striker Loic Remy, who has been on loan at Newcastle this season.

France’s first Group E match is against Honduras on 15 June and they also face Switzerland and Ecuador.

Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, Newcastle’s Mathieu Debuchy and Moussa Sissoko, Manchester United left-back Patrice Evra and Liverpool centre-back Mamadou Sakho are all included.

Arsenal trio Laurent Koscielny, Bacary Sagna and Olivier Giroud complete the Premier League contingent for the 1998 winners.

Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin is on the seven-man standby list.

Nasri, who was given a three-match international ban for his behaviour during Euro 2012, predicted his exclusion from the squad earlier this week.

He said: “Sadly it’s not going to happen, but that’s fine. I am just happy I won the league and a cup this year. If that is not enough, it is not enough.

“I missed a World Cup in 2010 and I am still alive and stronger than ever. I am going to watch it on TV while I am on holiday and I will be fine.”

City boss Manuel Pellegrini said: “It will be an important mistake if he doesn’t play in the World Cup.”

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

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

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

Forwards: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Olivier Giroud (Arsenal), Antoine Griezmann (Real Sociedad), Loic Remy (QPR – on loan at Newcastle), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich), Stephane Ruffier (Monaco).

Standby: Loic Perrin (St Etienne), Maxime Gonalons, Alexandre Lacazette (both Lyon), Morgan Schneiderlin (Southampton), Benoit Tremoulinas (Dynamo Kiev), Remy Cabella (Montpellier)

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