Diarra out of World Cup

France midfielder Lassana Diarra will miss the World Cup with a stomach problem.

The Real Madrid man and has been advised to rest for an indefinite period and so has been forced to withdraw from Raymond Domenech’s squad, the French Football Federation confirmed this afternoon.

The 25-year-old has been suffering from the problem at France’s pre-tournament camp in Tignes in the French Alps since Thursday.

A statement on www.fff.fr read: “Further to his intestinal pain contracted on the glacier in Tignes, check-ups have detected evidence of an unpredictable illness which justifies rest for an indeterminate period.

“Consequently Lassana Diarra will miss the World Cup 2010 in South Africa.”

France have opted not to call up a replacement for the time being.

Diarra was retained by Domenech, who last week cut six players from his preliminary 30-man squad, despite only starting 19 matches for Madrid in the Primera Division this term.

France have been drawn in Group A for the tournament alongside hosts South Africa, Mexico and Uruguay, their opponents in their first game in Cape Town on June 11.

FFF president Jean-Pierre Escalettes said the loss of Diarra was a huge blow to France.

“I react with great sadness because a World Cup is something terrific,” he said on www.lequipe.fr.

“Lassana is a player I like a lot.

“He could have had enormous value to the team because of his mental strength.

“It is dramatic that he should miss the World Cup.”

Escalettes expressed confidence that France had the depth to overcome the loss of Diarra, but suggested the player would not find it so easy to come to terms with missing the tournament.

“He will play more because he is young, but I have great sorrow for him,” he said.