Big Blow For The Blues: Ribéry Ruled Out Of The World Cup

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France midfielder Franck Ribéry has been ruled out of the World Cup

Franck Ribéry has been ruled out of the World Cup after he was unable to shake off a persistent back problem. The Bayern Munich winger had attempted to rejoin training with Didier Deschamps’ squad but the coach was forced to announce that he would be unable to make the trip to Brazil.

“This morning before the collective training session he had to stop, the pain was too strong,” Deschamps told a news conference. “We have made checks in the beginning of the afternoon, checks that confirmed the situation has aggravated and he is today not capable of training for a few weeks, let alone play a game.”

Lyon midfielder Clément Grenier has also been ruled out. Montpellier’s Rémy Cabella and Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin will replace the duo, whose absence was announced by Deschamps at a press conference in Clairefontaine ahead of his side’s departure to Brazil.

Ribery had been following an individual training programme to overcome a back problem but failed to prove his fitness after rejoining the full squad on Friday. Grenier sat out the session as he underwent scans on a thigh injury and both players’ worst fears were confirmed by Deschamps.

The coach has already been forced into one change to his original squad, with the injured Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda replaced by St Etienne’s Stéphane Ruffier.

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