Franck Ribery out of the World Cup due to a back injury

[caption id="attachment_2218162" align="aligncenter" width="594"] Franck Ribery ruled out of the World Cup[/caption]

Franck Ribery has been ruled out of the World Cup due to a persistent lower back injury.

He had been complaining of lower back pain for some weeks now, but had been selected in the 23 man squad based on the belief that he would have been able to shake off the injury and contribute effectively to France's World Cup campaign.

Ribery, 31, had been given time till Friday to prove his fitness to the team doctors, and unfortunately suffered some sort of a recurrence of his back injury on Friday.

"An MRI scan confirmed the sudden worsening of his condition and led the medical staff to conclude his inability to train and play," said a France Football Federation statement.

His absence will be a huge blow to France's chances at the World Cup, and adds to their injury woes as Lyon's Clement Grenier has also been ruled out due to a hip injury. Southampton's Morgan Schneiderlein and Montpellier's Remy Cabella have been called up as replacements.