Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda has confirmed that injury will prevent him from representing France at next month’s World Cup.
The 29 year-old, who has been capped 16 times by Les Bleus, suffered a neck problem in Marseille’s 1-0 win at Guingamp on Saturday and will not recover in time for the tournament.
“It is with sadness that I announce that unfortunately I will not be able to keep my place in the World Cup squad,” he wrote on his Twitter account, as reported by FIFA.com. “I wish the team of France a World Cup full of success.”
Mandanda had been selected by France Head Coach Didier Deschamps as one of his three goalkeepers, alongside Hugo Lloris and Mickaël Landreau. Mandanda’s place will now be taken by Saint-Étienne’s Stéphane Ruffier, who was on standby.
