DIDIER DESCHAMPS’ France squad is the first in 22 years at a major tournament that does not include an Arsenal player.
The 23-man squad was announced on Thursday as France, seventh in the Fifa world rankings, prepare to head out to Russia.
The staggering statistic, revealed by OptaJoe, was also telling on the impact of Arsene Wenger in North London.
Wenger’s 22-year reign at Arsenal, from 1996 to 2018, coincides with the dates of Arsenal players’ involvement with the French national team.
When France won the European Championships in 2000, their squad included six players who either played or would play under Wenger at Arsenal.
The trend would have continued this year had Olivier Giroud not been sold to Chelsea in January.
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Giroud, the 31-year-old striker, scored six goals for Chelsea in a strong second half of the season that earned him a place in Deschamps’ squad.
Arsenal captain Laurent Koscielny would have had a high chance of being on the plane to Russia but for a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered in the Europa League semi-final.
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The 32-year-old is expected to be out for the first half of next season.
Fellow Frenchman Alexandre Lacazette also missed out as Deschamps opted for Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann, and Ousmane Dembele, as well as Giroud, as his forwards.
France face the USA at the Stade des Lumieres on Saturday in their final warm-up match before the World Cup begins.
They have been drawn in Group C alongside Australia, Peru and Denmark, facing the Socceroos in their first match on June 16.
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