FIFA World Cup 2018: France XI that will not be playing in Russia

Midfielders: Tiemoue Bakayoko, Adrien Rabiot and Dimitri Payet

Bakayoko has struggled since moving to Chelsea

Before discussing the midfielders who haven’t made the squad, let us take a moment and appreciate the quality of the midfielders France have in their World Cup squad - Blaise Matuidi, Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kante, Thomas Lemar, Steven Nzonzi and Corentin Tolisso!

Tiémoué Bakayoko enjoyed a fantastic season with Monaco last year and that earned him a call-up to the senior team in March 2017. Deschamps was clearly impressed by the midfielder and called him ‘a complete midfielder’.

He has an important athletic presence, he's good at recovery, he scores decisive goals and is able to project himself.

At the time of his move to Chelsea, it was widely considered as a big coup and many expected him to form a prolific partnership with his compatriot N’Golo Kante which would also boost his chances of starting for France alongside Kante.

However, Bakayoko struggled massively since his move to Chelsea and ended up being named one of the worst acquisitions of the summer. Nevertheless, he’s still on 23 and has shown glimpses of improvement.

Rabiot's exclusion is probably the biggest surprise

Adrien Rabiot was expected to be a part of the travelling squad to Russia and is perhaps the most surprising exclusion. He was a regular starter for PSG despite the competition for places in the squad. He was also a regular member of the French squad during the qualifiers and the friendlies preceding the World Cup but when the big day came, Steven Nzonzi was given the nod.

Payet was injured a day before the squads were announced

Dimitri Payet was expected to be part of the squad after a brilliant season with Marseille during which he scored 9 goals and assisted 20. However, fate played a cruel game on him as he picked up an injury in the first half of the Europa League final, a day before the announcement of the France squad.

His agony of losing the final must have increased manifold when he learned that he won’t be playing the FIFA World Cup and already 31, this might have been his last chance to play at the biggest stage in football.

Other notable exclusions: Moussa Sissoko (Spurs) and Houssem Aouar (Olympique Lyon)