No World Cup place for Anelka

Nicolas Anelka has missed the World Cup cut for a third time as France coach Raymond Domenech named his 23-man squad for this summer’s tournament in Germany.

In a list notable for the inclusion of uncapped pair Pascal Chimbonda of Wigan and Marseille’s Franck Ribery, Domenech once more omitted Anelka.

Louis Saha, Ribery, Djibril Cisse and Sylvain Wiltord instead will give Domenech attacking options to consider with Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet expected to start.

Anelka, a key part of Arsenal’s double-winning season in 1997-98, was one of the unlucky men when Aime Jacquet trimmed his 28-man squad to 22 for the successful 1998 World Cup campaign.

In 2002 he was surprisingly overlooked by Roger Lemerre, who instead called up Cisse. Now Anelka has an unwanted World Cup hat-trick.

Domenech also confirmed that Fabien Barthez and not Gregory Coupet will be the starting goalkeeper.