CLAIREFONTAINE, France (AP)—France coach Laurent Blanc called up midfielder Yohan Cabaye and defender Anthony Reveillere for European Championship qualifiers against Belarus and Bosnia-Herzegovina as cover for the injured Lassana Diarra.
The versatile Diarra picked up a hamstring strain in Real Madrid’s Spanish league opener at the weekend and was ruled out for both games on Monday.
“Lassana could have played in two areas, as a defensive midfielder or nfl jerseys
a right back,” Blanc told a news conference. “We therefore thought it would be useful to call back a right back and a holding midfiel
Diarra’s withdrawal is another blow to Blanc’s side, which begins Euro 2012 qualifying at home against Belarus on Friday and at Bosnia-Herzegovina on Sept. 7.
Blanc will also be without Lyon playmaker Yoann Gourcuff, who is suspended after being sent off at the World Cup, and the injured Samir Nasri.
Blanc, a former Manchester United defender who replaced Raymond Domenech after the World Cup, was also unable to call on Nicolas Anelka, Patrice Evra, Franck Ribery and Jeremy Toulalan after they were suspended by the federation for the squad’s training strike in South Africa.
“Those things also happen at club level,” said Blanc, who coached Bordeaux to the French title in 2009. “But our problem is that most of the unavailable players usually play in the same area (midfield).”
France’s injury concerns could soon worsen after striker Karim Benzema’s training session was cut short Monday after receiving a knock on his right ankle.
France spokesman Philippe Tournon said Benzema’s injury “doesn’t look serious.”
Reveillere has played six times for France and was part of Buccaneers #99 jersey
the squad that crashed out in the group stage of the World Cup in South Africa.
Cabaye made his international debut last month in Blanc’s first game in charge, a 2-1 loss at Norway in a friendly.
“It’s a bit unexpected and I had traveled to the south of France to be with my wife and daughter,” Cabaye told L’Equipe’s website. “But I can’t wait to be there and to start training. The France squad is an exceptional thing.”
Last week, Blanc picked nine World Cup players, including in-form Chelsea winger Florent Malouda.
“We will never forget what happened in South Africa,” Malouda said at France’s training camp. “But we need to soldier on and think about the future. We will give our best answer on the field. This will be the best therapy for all of us.”
In South Africa, France exited a major tournament in the first round without winning a game for the second consecutive time. The players also embarrassed their country with a training strike intended to protest Nicolas Anelka’s expulsion from the squad following a foul-mouthed tirade at Domenech.
France will play its first home game since the World Cup against Belarus at Stade de France, and Blanc is hoping the fans won’t take it out on his players.
“I don’t know what the fans are hatching for us, but hopefully we will receive a positive welcome,” Blanc said. “I hope the people who will be there will be in the mood for football. If some of them want let off steam, I would advise them to go somewhere else.”
France, which has won the European Championship twice and the 1998 World Cup, recently dropped to the 21st place in the FIFA rankings, and Blanc needs to rebuild a team that was left in ruins by his predecessor.
“I’m encouraging everyone to show humility,” Blanc said. “I’m hearing that we have two easy games to play. But the reality is far different from this.”
Blanc said his main task is to restore confidence in his players, who will practice with former Titans jersey
France great Zinedine Zidane at Wednesday’s training session.
“I didn’t ask Zinedine Zidane to come here for a speech,” Blanc said. “People who know him understand this is not his stuff. But he has things to share, and hopefully he will help us to reinforce the idea that the national team is a crucial element in the players’ career.”
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