Hatem Ben Arfa is not in the France squad for the two friendlies to be played against Uruguay tomorrow and Brazil on Saturday.
Ben Arfa in action for France last summer at Euro 2012
And Newcastle’s mercurial winger may find it difficult to get in the World Cup squad for France for next summer’s World Cup in Brazil.
The main reason for that is nothing to do with his form, but that he fell out with current French coach Didier Deschamps, when both were at Marseilles.
Deschamps was manager at Marseilles from 2009 through 2012, when he was appointed France’s manager, and Ben Arfa was at Marseilles from 2008, and left essentially in August of 2010, when he took that famous trip to Newcastle – since he desperately wanted to play at the Tyneside club.
Ben Arfa at Newcastle Airport in August, 2010
Ben Arfa signed on full-time at Newcastle in January of 2011, but never saw eye to eye with Deschamps when they were both at the French club.
Ben Arfa was suspended after having an altercation with Laurent Blanc at last summer’s Euro 2012, but that’s now past and gone and not the reason why he has not been included in any of Deschamps squads, including the current one.
Samir Nasri was also suspended, but was selected in the current squad, but pulled out because of an injury he picked up playing for Manchester City against Chelsea in a friendly game over here in the US.
We’d be surprised if Ben Arfa makes any French squad with Didier Deschamps as the manager – but we’ve been wrong before.
If he doesn’t play for France it does mean he will be better prepared to play for Newcastle, so that’s at least one advantage.
What do you think?
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128 comments so far
WWYCD
Jun 4, 2013 at 11:45 AM
Comment #41Belhanda to Villa? Howay surely not?! Villa have no money what so ever and are muck like us
Lilongwe Geordie
Jun 4, 2013 at 11:47 AM
Comment #42Croftus,
Sammi scored in his first or second game, but was largely awful at Boro. To the extent, some Boro fans I know don’t think he is good enough for them. He was left out of the team for the last few games during his spell there.
RichyG,
Hull, Fulham, Norwich, Sunderland, and 1 other, can’t remember who, have already made signings. Although Sunderlands is a young lad from Altrincham.
The Boy
Jun 4, 2013 at 11:51 AM
Comment #43richg01 i quite like Espinoza from wigan think we could get him quite cheap and can pass a ball
lesh
Jun 4, 2013 at 11:52 AM
Comment #44Just goes to show, true love always show.
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/tulisa-contostavlos-reveals-reasons-behind-4046564
Lilongwe Geordie
Jun 4, 2013 at 11:52 AM
Comment #45On Streete, he is behind Good as he has missed large parts of the last 2 seasons with injuries. If he can stay injury free, then he needs to go out on loan next season. Him Campbell, Satko, Mbabu all need loans. Just below that group are Aarons, Gillihead, Armstrong, Woodman who all have great potential as well.
Lilongwe Geordie
Jun 4, 2013 at 11:55 AM
Comment #46Wouldn’t mind Charlie Austin as a back up, or Rhodes. 7million is too much for either though. 4/5 plus add ons depending on success.
Markaccus
Jun 4, 2013 at 12:01 PM
Comment #47Lesh
I think the real issue there is ‘why does tulisa think anyone should give a flying fk’?
Celebrities lead such inane lives.
Rainrix
Jun 4, 2013 at 12:10 PM
Comment #48Belhandas agent/chairman cant remember which said that theres been a bid for him from 5 clubs, villa, AC, Inter Galatasary and someone else. Basically doubt we’d get him and even less likely villa will
Rainrix
Jun 4, 2013 at 12:11 PM
Comment #49Heres the article athletico were the other team.
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11677/8756419/Transfer-News-Aston-Villa-in-for-Younes-Belhanda
Jail for Ashley
Jun 4, 2013 at 12:21 PM
Comment #50Where ever Dirk Dastardly and Mashley are on their holidays I hope it’s raining.
Novocastrian66
Jun 4, 2013 at 12:22 PM
Comment #51Torq; what is Pardew’s reputation like from within the game? Has his stock fallen among the football fraternity?
Kazzy
Jun 4, 2013 at 12:27 PM
Comment #52http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/12691/8756419/Transfer-News-Aston-Villa-in-for-Younes-Belhanda
Wat a signing he would be for villa, look at us everyday just rumours no bids no players. Becoming a joke !!!
DokToon
Jun 4, 2013 at 12:30 PM
Comment #53gmorning all from the darkside of the pond…
torq, an earlier post said you knew of a big signing for us… so, messi, von persie and jesus himself are talking to the toon?? 🙂 id consider that big, lol
Kazzy
Jun 4, 2013 at 12:33 PM
Comment #54http://www1.skysports.com/transfer-centre/scout/15198/8684061/Sky-Sports-Scout-Stoppilla-Sunzu
Young and Strong
Kazzy
Jun 4, 2013 at 12:37 PM
Comment #55Has Danny Simpson left knw or does he leave 1st July ?
Laurent Robert 32
Jun 4, 2013 at 12:39 PM
Comment #56Yo yo, it doesn’t need foresight, although that would be nice!
I’m basing it on what has been done since he’s been here and at his other clubs. There were obvious things which needed correcting last year, they weren’t and he persisted with what he thought was best. Week after week I looked for those errors to be rectified, and they weren’t. Bosingwa put our survival chances on a plate.
If a new coach comes in, you don’t need to look into the future to know that Pardew will have the decision making responsibility over him. Hence, being manager. Therefore, whatever the coach tried to implement, it can be undone be Pardew the ruler if the dark side of management.
That is of course if the coach is decent to start with and not just a yes man to Pardew’s “strong philosophy”.
geordiefromthemidlands
Jun 4, 2013 at 12:41 PM
Comment #57Cheers on the young uns update. Looks like we have good prospects.
toon kk
Jun 4, 2013 at 12:48 PM
Comment #58Don’t expect much activitie in this transfer window. They will come out with the statement the young lads are coming on really well and we did our business in january nice and early to get them bedded in for next season.
marc
Jun 4, 2013 at 1:00 PM
Comment #59hear that ba is not wanted think we should be in for him imo
lesh
Jun 4, 2013 at 1:11 PM
Comment #60Marc…. Tulisa is famous, she must be in there on the celeb Z list somewhere.
marc
Jun 4, 2013 at 1:15 PM
Comment #61BRING HOME BA
GREAT PLAYER AND HAS GOALS IN HIM PROVEN THEN SELL CISSE FOR 20MIL
tequilamag
Jun 4, 2013 at 1:16 PM
Comment #62Toon KK as the transfer window has not opened yet maybe it`s a bit too early for the doom and gloom.
lesh
Jun 4, 2013 at 1:18 PM
Comment #63Apologies all round.
60 was pitched at you Markaccus, not marc.
Sorry gents.
Ibizatoon - Back By Popular Demand
Jun 4, 2013 at 1:19 PM
Comment #64Tequila…It’s never too early for some doom and gloom.
Big Pappa Cissé
Jun 4, 2013 at 1:21 PM
Comment #65I would take Ba back in a heartbeat. Him & Cisse would have worked if we played this team
——Sissoko——Cabaye——Anita——
————————–HBA———————-
———-Cisse———————–Ba———–
tequilamag
Jun 4, 2013 at 1:25 PM
Comment #66Ibiza, very true, Tommy Docherty used to advise the great Chopper Harris to get his late tackles in early.
tequilamag
Jun 4, 2013 at 1:26 PM
Comment #67BPC, who needs a defence with a line up like that
marc
Jun 4, 2013 at 1:28 PM
Comment #68maybe BIG PAPPA but i wouldnt turn down 20mil for cisse as we all no he aint really worth that much i think it would be hard to turn down 17-18 mil
and BA suits us down to the ground plus no bedding in time
ok lesh- no worries
Ibizatoon - Back By Popular Demand
Jun 4, 2013 at 1:28 PM
Comment #69Tequila…Is that reference I should know? 🙂
Munster Mag
Jun 4, 2013 at 1:30 PM
Comment #70Ibiza, I still think you have far too much faith in Pardew. His Cv doesnt really warrant it, although I supported the guy from day 1, until around the Brighton game when the youngsters effectively told him to f* off. Importantky, if Pardew is the man , then he needs to be able to buold his OWN team, and if that means 442 with a british/irish work ethic and andy carroll up front, then i’m fine with that. What I dont want is us chasing guys like Anita and wasting them. Nor do I see the point in handing him quality like Sissoko if he cant make it work. Im hoping last season was an aberration, but I know it wasnt. He lacks the belief to win games – and it was apparent all season long. He truly is a defensive midfielder. I actually trust the ambitions of Ashley ahead of the abilities of Pardew , sad to say. I hope i’m proved wrong.
tequilamag
Jun 4, 2013 at 1:30 PM
Comment #71Chopper Harris was a notoriously dirty defender in the late 60s early 70s. Was rumoured he could not read or write but was brutal on the pitch.
Ibizatoon - Back By Popular Demand
Jun 4, 2013 at 1:33 PM
Comment #72Tequila…A little before my time then 🙂
toon kk
Jun 4, 2013 at 1:33 PM
Comment #73Tequilamag. It isn’t doom and gloom its just knowing the owner and the board we have and sadly getting let down by them. Let’s hope they prove me rong.
tequilamag
Jun 4, 2013 at 1:36 PM
Comment #74Ibiza, youtube him mate. Simpler times in many ways
Ibizatoon - Back By Popular Demand
Jun 4, 2013 at 1:39 PM
Comment #75Tequila…Just watched one where he took out Best.
Amazing anyone used to be able to get near goal, let alone score, with tackles like that.
tequilamag
Jun 4, 2013 at 1:39 PM
Comment #76Toon KK I can understand you are still a little scarred from last Summer but that was the only one we never really got new players in. Hopefully the lesson has been learned.
tequilamag
Jun 4, 2013 at 1:41 PM
Comment #77Ibiza , yeah pretty brutal but nowhere near as many injuries for some reason. Anyway got to run my lift to work has just turned up 2 hours late. Adios amigo
Ibizatoon - Back By Popular Demand
Jun 4, 2013 at 1:43 PM
Comment #78Tequila…For some reason? I think it’s fair to say it’s probably Pardews fault 😉
Take it easy mate.
marc
Jun 4, 2013 at 1:45 PM
Comment #79@tequilamag
it feels like we are a bit slow out the traps tho this summer do you not think, i know the window aint open yet but there are a lot of clubs doing pre contract agreement this year so soon as it does open they’ll have their men and we still dont know who we are defo in for yet
OhSholaAmeobi
Jun 4, 2013 at 1:55 PM
Comment #80Deschamps is a d***, but it’s up to Ben Arfa to force his way in with some consistently good performances and it may well be that a move to Spurs or someone would give him a better chance, at the end of the day international managers don’t tend to traipse up here.