PARIS: France coach Laurent Blanc on Thursday omitted former skipper Patrice Evra from his squad to face Brazil in a Feb 9 friendly at Stade de France – but insisted his reasons were purely tactical.
Manchester United defender Evra had been available for selection after serving a five-match suspension following his leading role in last summer’s player strike during the World Cup at Knysna in South Africa.
But Blanc had been under some pressure to prolong his spell in the cold after French Sports Minister Chantal Jouanno demanded last week the World Cup rebels apologise before donning the national shirt again.
Blanc nonetheless insisted he would make his own decision and not succumb to outside pressure on who he should and should not select for the French football squad.
“I made my choice according to sporting criteria,” Blanc insisted.
“There is a lot of competition for that post involving players who play for great clubs.
“I base my criteria on sporting qualities and take into account Eric Abidal’s showing in the last game which was very good.”
Blanc added that “the behaviour of the 23 (in South Africa), not just that of Evra, was unworthy. There followed bans – and they have been served. What interests me is putting together the best team possible.”
He added: “The door remains open.”
While leaving out Evra – fellow rebel Franck Ribery has also served a ban but is currently injured – Blanc called Arsenal central defender Laurent Koscielny into the squad for the first time.
Koscielny, who joined the Gunners last year from Lorient, had been the subject of overtures from the Polish Federation – his grandfather is Polish – but has recently insisted his dream is to don the blue of France, where the 25-year-old was born.
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