France midfielder Lassana Diarra ruled out of World Cup because of stomach ailment

Diarra to miss World Cup due to stomach ailment

TIGNES, France — France midfielder Lassana Diarra was ruled out of the World Cup on Saturday because of a stomach ailment.

The Real Madrid midfielder hasn’t trained with France in the Alpine resort of Tignes for the last three days.

“Medical tests have revealed an unforeseeable illness which justifies a rest period,” France media officer Francois Manardo said. “As a consequence, Lassana Diarra will miss the World Cup.”

Manardo said Diarra first felt “intestinal pains” when the squad went up to the foot of La Grande Motte glacier on Wednesday, sleeping in a restaurant at more than 9,800 feet in a team-bonding exercise, and Diarra has not been able to shake off the pains.

The French team allows no media access to the medical staff, and the only further details given were that Diarra needed to rest for “an indefinite period.”

Diarra has played 27 times for France since making his debut just over three years ago.

France coach Raymond Domenech has not called up a replacement for Diarra, a regular in the qualifiers.

Domenech has until June 1 to name his 23 players for the World Cup.

He is hoping defender William Gallas recovers from a calf injury that ruled him out of Arsenal’s last few weeks of the English season.

Gallas trained for nearly two hours late Saturday and looked comfortable, moving easily, jumping for headers and not showing any ill effects as he took part in jogging, stretching and passing drills.

Domenech paired Diarra alongside Jeremy Toulalan in a highly defensive system throughout the qualifiers, and his absence may force the coach to change his approach at the World Cup. France is in the same group as Uruguay, Mexico and host South Africa.