All 23 of France’s World Cup squad have been suspended by the French Football Federation for the upcoming friendly with Norway.
New coach Laurent Blanc will lead Les Bleus into action in Oslo on August 11 without any of the players who were involved in the controversial failure they suffered in South Africa, where they drew one and lost two of their group games and scored just one goal.
After their defeat to Mexico, Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka was sent home after a row with then coach Raymond Domenech. His team-mates then came out in support of him, with the squad refusing to train ahead of the final game with the hosts.
Domenech has now left and key squad member Thierry Henry retired. Captain Patrice Evra and defender Eric Abidal were among the other players heavily fingered by those criticising the unrest as it was investigated when the squad got home. However, a decision has now been taken by the FFF to suspend all of them for their next outing after a request from Blanc.
Blanc said earlier in the month: "I obviously cannot act as if nothing had happened in South Africa.
"I followed the events with sadness, I was disappointed with the sporting results and I was shocked by certain behaviours.
"I will integrate these elements into my analysis and my thoughts. I always had the principles, rules of conduct and not just in my sporting life. They have not changed and I will not change."