Ribéry to miss World Cup through injury

The French international Franck Ribéry, who was one of the nominees for the last Ballon d'Or, will miss the World Cup due to a back injury, the French Football Federation announced today, Friday.

The Bayern Munich midfielder – the France team's top player and one of the big crowd-pullers of the tournament – announced two weeks ago that Brazil would be his last World Cup.

Ribéry, aged 31, has been injured since 24th May. He took no part in France's two friendly games against Norway (4-0) and Paraguay (1-1).

A medical examination at the hospital in Rambouillet, on the outskirts of Paris, confirmed the "sudden aggravation of his condition", leading medical staff to rule out the player.

The loss of the midfielder means that 'Les Bleus' will be without their main attacking force. The France manager, Didier Deschamps, will also be without Clément Grenier, the 23-year-old Lyon midfielder, who has sustained a thigh injury.

The two players will be replaced by Morgan Schneiderlin and Rémy Cabellam, who will join the France team camp this afternoon in Clairefontaine, on the outskirts of the capital.