Manchester United's Anthony Martial left out of France squad and warned over form

By AFP

Image: Anthony Martial has been dropped from Didier Deschamps' France squad

Manchester United forward Anthony Martial has been dropped by France and given a warning over his form for club and country.

Martial, who has scored just two goals since Jose Mourinho's arrival, was left out of Didier Deschamps' squad for next week's World Cup qualifying clash with Sweden, as well as a friendly against the Ivory Coast.

The former Monaco man has been hampered by injuries in his second season at Old Trafford but after being overlooked by Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard in recent weeks, Deschamps sounded a word of caution over his application.

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"His club coach expects more from him and so do I," said Deschamps. 

"I have not forgotten what he has done or what he is capable of doing, but it's up to him to make efforts to find his best form. He is not at the level where he should be."

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Arsenal's Olivier Giroud missed out on the squad last time out with a toe injury but returns in goalscoring form after scoring twice from the bench against Sunderland and then netting against Ludogorets in a Champions league fightback win.

"His return is logical," Deschamps said of Giroud. "He was a little injured and less effective at some points, but he still has the same qualities.

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"His recent performances have made him good. With us, he is very effective. Hispresence makes sense."

Image: Olivier Giroud, who scored twice against against Sunderland, returns to international duty after injury

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Adrien Rabiot, 21, the PSG midfielder who was only a reserve for Euro 2016, comes in at the expense of Crystal Palace's Yohan Cabaye, but Deschamps has largely retained the same pack that suffered home heartbreak at the hands of Portugal in the Euro 2016 final.

Giroud is joined by Arsenal team-mate Laurent Koscielny as well as Premier League rivals Paul Pogba of Manchester United, Dimitri Payet of West Ham, Chelsea's N'Golo Kante and Tottenham pair Moussa Sissoko and Hugo Lloris.

France host Sweden - the side currently tied with them at the top of the table - at the Stade de France on November 11, before playing the Ivory Coast four days later.

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