Hugo Lloris, Bacary Sagna, Yohan Cabaye and Kingsley Coman will sit out France’s international friendly against Netherlands in Amsterdam on Friday.
None of the quartet are suffering from injuries but coach Didier Deschamps has decided to rest the players on the back of a busy schedule with their club sides.
Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda will start instead of Lloris, while Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Blaise Matuidi will take the captain’s armband in the absence of the Tottenham keeper.
Along with Lloris, Manchester City defender Sagna, Crystal Palace midfielder Cabaye and Bayern Munich winger Coman are expected to remain with Deschamps’ squad for the match against Russia in Paris next Tuesday.
“Hugo has nothing at all [wrong with him] but, along with the need and usefulness of giving playing time to Steve, I gave him the game off,” Deschamps said.
“Hugo has been very busy with his club, chasing the Premier League and Europa League.
“It will [give him] time to recuperate and he will play the second match.”
Deschamps added that Sagna, Cabaye and Coman would be absent for “different concerns” to avoid “taking risks”.
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