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29 March 2024

Didier Deschamps names first France side

France's national football team's coach, Didier Deschamps speaks during a press conference on August 9, 2012 at the French football federation (FFF) headquarters in Paris, to announce the France squad to face Uruguay in a friendly match on August 15. ( AFP)

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By AFP

Didier Deschamps on Thursday left out Yann M'Vila and Hatem Ben Arfa from his first squad as France manager, explaining that they were not selected because of discipline issues during Euro 2012.

The former Marseille manager, who replaced Laurent Blanc after the tournament in Poland and Ukraine in June, said M'Vila and Ben Arfa were left out because of their "attitude and behaviour" during the competition.

Both players were summoned before a French Football Federation commission last month and handed warnings as to their future conduct. They also had their win bonuses withdrawn.

The same commission suspended Manchester City's Samir Nasri for four international matches for his foul-mouthed rant at an AFP journalist after France's quarter-final defeat to Spain. PSG's Jeremy Menez was banned for one match for his behaviour.

Announcing the France squad to face Uruguay in a friendly on August 15, Deschamps said: "Concerning two players, Yann M'Vila and Hatem Ben Arfa, I took the decision not to select them for this match.

"This decision seems logical and consistent to me given what I expect from the players in terms of attitude and behaviour. It's up to them to understand this decision," he told reporters, warning other players to "take note".

Deschamps called up PSG's Christophe Jallet, Real Madrid's Raphael Varane and Etienne Capoue of Toulouse for the first time.

Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, of Ligue 1 champions Montpellier, who had been in line to go to Euro 2012, also makes a return for the match in the northern city of Le Havre.

There was no place, though, for Chelsea defender Florent Malouda, nor Newcastle United midfielder Yohan Cabaye, while Valencia's Adil Rami and Philippe Mexes of AC Milan were also sidelined.

But Deschamps warned against reading too much into the decision.

"For Florent Maloud, I've already said that no one is ruled out. But he's in a situation where he hasn't played much (with Chelsea) even in friendly matches with his club," the coach explained.

"I don't know if he's going to stay with Chelsea... Rami and Cabaye were not available. They've both got a few injury problems. They're not ready to play."

Deschamps also said he preferred to "wait" before recalling Lyon playmaker Yoann Gourcuff, who was also left out of Blanc's Euro 2012 squad, and was giving time for young Arsenal midfielder Abou Diaby to recover from injury.

France begin their World Cup 2014 qualifying campaign against Finland on September 7 and Belarus three days later.

Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Lyon), Steve Mandanda (Marseille)

Defenders: Gael Clichy (Manchester City/ENG), Mathieu Debuchy (Lille), Patrice Evra (Manchester United/ENG), Christophe Jallet (Paris SG), Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal/ENG), Mamadou Sakho (Paris SG), Raphael Varane (Real Madrid), Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa (Montpellier)

Midfielders: Etienne Capoue (Toulouse), Maxime Gonalons (Lyon), Marvin Martin (Lille), Blaise Matuidi (Paris SG), Rio Mavuba (Lille)

Forwards: Mathieu Valbuena (Marseille), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid/ESP), Jimmy Briand (Lyon), Olivier Giroud (Arsenal/ENG), Bafetimbi Gomis (Lyon), Dimitri Payet (Lille), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich/GER)