Manchester United and France sensation Anthony Martial Martial has been left out of the French squad for their upcoming World Cup Qualifier game against Sweden and the friendly against Ivory Coast four days later, by French coach Didier Deschamps.
Deschamps has replaced the United player with Oliver Giroud, who has returned from injury in superb fashion, notching two goals off the bench in Arsenal’s mauling of David Moyes’s beleaguered Sunderland.
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Martial has suffered a dip in form, which has largely been due to niggling injuries, which hasn’t allowed him to replicate last season’s performance.
I expect more from him, says Deschamps
As a result of his club form France manager Didier Deschamps has warned the young Frenchman about losing his place in the national squad. Martial who was part of the French team that narrowly missed out on winning the EURO 2016 trophy, suffering a 1-0 defeat to Portugal in the final.
"His club coach expects more from him and so do I," said Deschamps on Martial.
"I have not forgotten what he has done or what he is capable of doing, but it's up to him to make efforts to find his best form. He is not at the level where he should be."
Giroud’s return is logical, says French manager
Deschamps went on to justify Giroud’s return the squad claiming he missed out previously only because of a toe injury ruled that kept the forward out.
"His return is logical," Deschamps said of Giroud. "He was a little injured and less effective at some points, but he still has the same qualities.
"His recent performances have made him good. With us, he is very effective. His presence makes sense."
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Anthony Martial has come under a lot of criticism in recent weeks by pundits who have said that the striker has not found his feet in his second campaign at Old Trafford. Martial's weak display in United’s away defeat to Fenerbahce last night in the Europa League almost justifies Deschamps decision in not calling up the youngster to the squad.
Under Mourinho, this season, Martial has managed to score just a solitary goal to add to his two assists in the Premier League in seven appearances.
Martial has been hit with a string of little knocks that kept him out of the games against Liverpool and Leicester. However, Martial has been out of favour in the pecking order since his return from injury as Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard preferred ahead of him.
Here is the complete 25-man squad:
Goalkeepers: Alphonse Areola (PSG), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham), Steve Mandanda (Crystal Palace).
Defenders: Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal), Samuel Umititi (Barcelona), Raphael Varane (Real Madrid), Adil Rami (Sevilla), Lucas Digne (Barcelona), Layvin Kurzawa (PSG), Sebastien Corchia (Lille), Djibril Sidibe (Monaco).
Midfielders: N'Golo Kante (Chelsea), Blaise Matuidi (PSG), Dimitri Payet (West Ham), Paul Pogba (Manchester United), Moussa Sissoko (Tottenham), Adrien Rabiot (PSG).
Attackers: Ousmane Dembele (Borussia Dortmund), Nabil Fekir (Lyon), Kevin Gameiro (Atletico Madrid), Olivier Giroud (Arsenal), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich).
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