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World Cup 2018

Lucas Hernández criticises Rabiot for World Cup refusal

The Atlético Madrid defender, who made the final cut of 23 players in Didier Deschamps' squad, believes the PSG midfielder should have accepted stand-by role.

Lucas Hernández, en un partido con la selección de Francia.
CHARLES PLATIAUReuters

Adrien Rabiot’s decision to refuse a place on Didier Deschamps’ stand-by list for the 2018 World Cup drew sharp criticism from the Les Bleus boss, who said the PSG midfielder has informed him in an email of his stance and then didn’t reply directly to a request for clarification from his national team manager.

I dare to hope that through some decisions like this it will allow him to mature, to reflect. I am convinced that he made a huge mistake in taking such a position,” Deschamps said of the 23-year-old’s negative response to being omitted from the final 23-player squad.

Hernández: "I think he may have been a bit hasty"

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Speaking to French broadcaster SFR Sport, Atlético Madrid defender Lucas Hernández, who did make the final cut, echoed Deschamps’ sentiment.

“It’s true that he could be disappointed, he was an important player in the squad. He was involved in all the recent qualifying games and not making the final squad for the World Cup is a blow. But I don’t understand refusing to be on the stand-by list, this is the national team. I think he might have been too hasty in his decision.”

Hernández also suggested that Rabiot’s refusal had not gone down too well with the rest of the squad: “We don’t talk about Adrien’s decision between ourselves.”

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