France coach Deschamps has left Samir Nasri out of his 23-man provisional World Cup squad

Nasri

France coach Didier Deschamps has left Manchester City playmaker Samir Nasri out of his 23-man provisional World Cup squad.

Nasri's omission - a fate also suffered by Gael Clichy - was predicted by some media outlets, with Deschamps handing surprise opportunities to Raphael Varane and Lucas Digne.

Ballon d'Or nominee Franck Ribery, Real Madrid's Karim Benzema and Patrice Evra of Manchester United are among the big-name playing options at Deschamps's disposal.

Les Bleus have been pooled in Group E alongside Switzerland, Ecuador and Honduras, and will open their campaign against the latter on 15 June.

France squad:

Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham), Steve Mandanda (Marseille), Mickeal Landreau (Bastia).

Defenders: Raphael Varane (Real Madrid ), Mamadou Sakho (Liverpool ), Mathieu Debuchy (Newcastle), Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal ), Lucas Digne (Paris), Eliaquim Mangala (Porto), Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Patrice Evra (Manchester United).

Midfielders: Yohan Cabaye (PSG), Paul Pogba (Juventus), Blaise Matuidi (PSG), Moussa Sissoko (Newcastle), Clement Grenier (Lyon), Rio Mavuba (Lille), Mathieu Valbuena (Marseille).

Forwards: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich), Antoine Griezmann (Real Sociedad), Olivier Giroud (Arsenal), Loic Remy (Newcastle).

Reserve list: Remy Cabella (Montpellier), Maxime Gonalons (Lyon), Alexandre Lacazette (Lyon), Loic Perrin (Saint-Etienne), Stephane Ruffier (Saint-Etienne), Morgan Schneiderlin (Southampton), Benoit Tremoulinas (Saint-Etienne).