Gourcuff, Yanga-Mbiwa dropped from France squad

Laurent Blanc has cut Yoann Gourcuff and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa from his final Euro 2012 squad.

Initially the France coach had named 27 players but Olympique de Marseille’s Loic Remy dropped out last week because of a thigh problem sustained at the end of the Ligue 1 season along with Tottenham centre-back Younes Kaboul (knee).

Speculation was rife as to the identities of the other two players, but Gourcuff was always considered to be a likely player to drop out after a difficult campaign with Olympique Lyonnais.

He was given the chance to impress in Sunday’s 3-2 friendly win over Iceland in Valenciennes, but clearly did not do enough in Blanc’s eyes to justify his selection.

Yanga-Mbiwa, meanwhile, was one of four centre-backs named in the initial squad, but the uncapped Montpellier player will not travel to Ukraine, with his lack of experience probably a key factor in the coach’s decision making.

France meet Serbia on Thursday and then face Estonia on June 5 in their final warm-up matches. They will meet England, Sweden and co-hosts Ukraine in Group D of Euro 2012.

France squad: Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Lyon), Steve Mandanda (Marseille), Cedric Carrasso (Bordeaux).

Defenders: Gael Clichy (Manchester City), Mathieu Debuchy (Lille), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal), Philippe Mexes (AC Milan), Adil Rami (Valencia), Anthony Reveillere (Lyon).

Midfielders: Hatem Ben Arfa, Yohan Cabaye (both Newcastle), Alou Diarra (Marseille), Yann M’Vila (Rennes), Marvin Martin (Sochaux), Florent Malouda (Chelsea), Blaise Matuidi (PSG), Samir Nasri (Manchester City), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich).

Strikers: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Olivier Giroud (Montpellier), Jeremy Menez (PSG), Mathieu Valbuena (Marseille).

Source : http://www.soccernews.com/gourcuff-yanga-mbiwa-dropped-from-france-squad/95451/

Gourcuff given chop by Blanc World Soccer Shop

Midfielder Yoann Gourcuff and centre-back Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa have been left out of France's final 23-man squad for Euro 2012.

Gourcuff: Left out by Blanc

Coach Laurent Blanc made his final cut, ahead of his first major tournament in charge, with Gourcuff omitted just days after he played 75 minutes in the 3-2 friendly win over Iceland.

The Lyon midfielder, who has endured a season undermined by injury, left the pitch with France 2-1 behind before his replacement, Franck Ribery, levelled.

Defender Yanga-Mbiwa, who helped Montpellier to their first Ligue 1 title, also made way while striker Loic Remy had already been ruled out from the initial 26-man list due to injury.

Blanc included 12 France-based players in his squad, headed by skipper Hugo Lloris, while there are seven players from the Premier League including Manchester City's title winners Gael Clichy and Samir Nasri.

Final France squad for Euro 2012:

Goalkeepers: Cedric Carrasso (Bordeaux), Hugo Lloris (Lyon), Steve Mandanda (Marseille).

Defenders: Gael Clichy (Man City), Mathieu Debuchy (Lille), Patrice Evra (Man Utd), Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal), Philippe Mexes (AC Milan), Adil Rami (Valencia), Anthony Reveillere (Lyon).

Midfielders: Yohan Cabaye (Newcastle), Alou Diarra (Marseille), Florent Malouda (Chelsea), Marvin Martin (Sochaux), Blaise Matuidi (Paris St Germain), Yann M'vila (Rennes), Samir Nasri (Man City).

Forwards: Hatem Ben Arfa (Newcastle), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Olivier Giroud (Montpellier), Jeremy Menez (Paris Saint-Germain), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich), Mathieu Valbuena (Marseille).

Source : http://soccer365.com//news/european_news/general/17354/gourcuff_given_chop_by_blanc