Thursday, 29th August, 2013
Yohan Cabaye's playing situation at Newcastle United has had an international impact with France coach Didier Deschamps leaving him out of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers squad.
France are set to play their next two World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Belarus – in that order with both played away from home.
Cabaye has seemingly gone on strike at Newcastle after Arsenal's attempts to sign him, with Paris Saint-Germain also in the mix.
As a result, he has not played a competitive game this season for Newcastle, meaning Deschamps has had to look elsewhere.
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The news will perhaps not be a surprise, given that France need as much concentration amongst their players as possible, lying as they do in second place behind Spain.
Group I could turn out to be a tricky affair, with France four points ahead of third-placed Finland, who face Spain on 6th September.
Deschamps has therefore opted for the strength in youth that is Geoffrey Kondogbia, who is poised for a move to Monaco, and Marseille's Andre-Pierre Gignac.
Arsenal's Olivier Giroud and Manchester City's Samir Nasri have also made the 25-man squad, as have Eric Abidal, Patrice Evra and Laurent Koscielny.
Deschamps has also given a look-in to FC Porto defender Eliaquim Mangala, who is reportedly subject to a €45m bid from Manchester City.
France will take on Georgia on 6th September, and will then take on Belarus on the 10th.
France squad in full:
Goalkeepers: Mickael Landreau, Hugo Lloris, Steve Mandanda
Defenders: Eric Abidal, Gael Clichy, Mathieu Debuchy, Patrice Evra, Laurent Koscielny, Eliaquim Mangala, Adil Rami, Bacary Sagna
Midfielders: Etienne Capoue, Clement Grenier, Joshua Guilavogui, Geoffrey Kondogbia, Blaise Matuidi, Paul Pogba, Moussa Sissoko
Forwards: Karim Benzema, Andre-Pierre Gignac, Olivier Giroud, Samir Nasri, Dimitri Payet, Franck Ribery, Mathieu Valbuena
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