Alexandre Lacazette and Anthony Martial on standby for France World Cup squad and Dimitri Payet out
By Andy Charles
Last Updated: 21/05/18 10:38am
Alexandre Lacazette and Anthony Martial have been left out of France's squad for the World Cup while Dimitri Payet misses the tournament through injury.
Arsenal striker Lacazette, who won six of his 13 France caps in 2017, has been named on Didier Deschamps' standby list, failing to make a 23-man squad that includes Olivier Giroud among seven forward options.
Martial is also on the standby list along with Mamadou Sakho, Moussa Sissoko and Kurt Zouma.
Marseille star Payet limped out of Wednesday's Europa League final defeat by Atletico Madrid and doubts over his fitness for the trip to Russia forced Deschamps' hand.
His party includes five players from the Premier League - Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy, Chelsea midfielder Ngolo Kante, Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba and Chelsea's Giroud.
Former Newcastle forward Florian Thauvin takes one of the attacking places ahead of Lacazette and Martial.
Of Payet, Deschamps said: "He was a serious candidate for a place in the 23 but for this kind of injury it's usually three weeks of recovery. And there is a risk of hurting yourself again with this kind of injury and I must give my final list to FIFA on June 4."
France World Cup squad:
Goalkeepers: Alphone Areola (Paris St Germain), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur), Steve Mandanda (Olympique de Marseille)
Defenders: Lucas Hernandez (Atletico Madrid), Presnel Kimpembe (Paris St Germain), Benjamin Pavard (VfB Stuttgart), Benjamin Mendy (Manchester City), Djibril Sidibe (Monaco), Adil Rami (Olympique de Marseille), Samuel Umtiti (Barcelona), Raphael Varane (Real Madrid)
Midfielders: Blaise Matuidi (Juventus), N'Golo Kante (Chelsea), Steven N'Zonzi (Sevilla), Paul Pogba (Manchester United), Corentin Tolisso (Bayern Munich)
Forwards: Olivier Giroud (Chelsea), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Kylian Mbappe (Paris St Germain), Thomas Lemar (Monaco), Nabil Fekir (Olympique Lyonnais), Florian Thauvin (Olympique de Marseille), Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona)
