FORWARD ANTHONY MARTIAL, Manchester United’s man of the match from last night’s facile Champions League victory over CSKA Moscow, has been excluded from Didier Deschamps’ France squad to play Bulgaria and Belarus.
The 21-year-old attacker has scored five goals and registered five assists in all competitions this season, many of them from the bench, and starred in United’s 4-1 victory at the VEB Arena last night, scoring once and putting two on a plate for Romelu Lukaku.
Per transfermarkt, the former Monaco standout has made a goal contribution every 35 minutes of play this term.
Former Newcastle flop Florian Thauvin, however, has been preferred to the United attacker in Deschamps’ squad, with Arsenal frontmen Alexandre Lacazette and Olivier Giroud also included.
RDV lundi à Clairefontaine pour préparer les 2 derniers matchs de Qualif' pour la #CDM2018 !👊 #BULFRA🇧🇬 #FRABIE🇧🇾#FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/lFJ2m4NTdS
— Equipe de France (@equipedefrance) September 28, 2017
France currently occupy top spot in Group A of UEFA qualification, one point clear of Sweden. Holland are three points further back still.
Les Bleus travel to Sofia to face Bulgaria on Saturday 7 October, before hosting Belarus in Saint-Denis the following Tuesday.
Anthony Martial vs. CSKA Moscow
— EiF (@EiF_Highlights) September 27, 2017
Sky is the limit for a talent like Tony. What a footballer. pic.twitter.com/9mLNsoEHP0
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Good news for United.
@Adrian Costigan: so long as it doesn’t bother Martial…
@EK: is he that sensitive? According to Jose, all his players could do with a rest already.
@Jason Brosnahan: most players would be to be fair but hopefully makes him hungry for next game after the international break.
@Irishoverseas: united fans shouldn’t care if their players are not picked for international duty. Seems a lot are taking it as a personal insult to the boy and the club that he’s not been selected. I would be happy so see Liverpool players not selected for internationals, less chance of them coming back injured.
@Jason Brosnahan: True story Jason.
Clearly Deschamps looking at the Martin O’Neill model of leaving out in form strikers.
@Ardmore02: very easy to be in form against bad opponents
@Jamie: completely obsessed
@Jamie: You OK, darling?
@Dave Murray: I’m ok Hun PM me
Clearly personal
@Johnny Bravo: who told you
@Johnny Bravo: well done Johnny. Not rising to that arse holes bait. If everyone did that he’d soon go back to his porn stash.
@Gerry Ivie: it’s 2017 not 1997 who has a open stash these days?
@Gerry Ivie: *porn (not open)
Must be a fallout there
@Rons: It’s Deschamps at the end of the day.
Hardly a big shock,sure United have only played weak teams so far it’s easy to play great against poor opposition he’d be found out for the player he is at international level that’s why he wasn’t picked
@Jamie: You’re suffering big time from writers block. October 28 against Spurs, United’s first match against one of the big sides. He’ll do the business then.
@Jamie: how many more times are you planning on making the same point? We get it. You’re obsessed with United and their success.
@Jamie: You are argument doesn’t hold much weight when Thauvin who plays for an average french team who isn’t pulling up any trees either and Coman who’s barely played this season are ahead of him. So it has to be a personal matter.
@Damien Costello: He’s sore after the last few nights of football. That’s all.
@Nollaig Elliot: just a lot of United fans are in denial about their form at the minute, only time will tell eh
@Jamie: Sure we’ll find out when Utd play Spurs in a few weeks, I guess.
@Nollaig Elliot: it’s all a bit of craic be something wrong if I got sore against a game of football
@Dave that’s right United’s first big game of the season
@Jamie: over a game
@Jamie: I’m hearing ya mate.
@Jamie: Come on now Jamie international football I not the standard anymore the club game is the bread and butter and top champions league level is the highest standard.
@Eamonn Dunne: yes top champions league level like Madrid Barcelona etc not a Moscow team