Franck Ribery Will Not be Going to Brazil to Play in France-Germany Clash

France's national football team midfielder Franck Ribery and France's head coach Didier Deschamps pose for a team group photo.
Injured France star Franck Ribery will not travel to Brazil to cheer his teammates when they face Germany in the World Cup quarterfinals on Friday, the French Football Federation (FFF) said on Tuesday.
Ribery, ruled out of the World Cup after a recurrence of a back injury on the eve of the finals, had been invited to join the squad along with two injured players originally due to travel to Brazil, Steve Mandanda and Clement Grenier. (Also read: How France Beat Nigeria to Reach Quarters)
However FFF president Noel Le Graet said the Bayern Munich star would not be coming to Brazil.
"Ribery is on holiday with his family and is recovering," Le Graet said.
Le Graet said the FFF was still waiting to hear whether Mandanda, who plays for Marseille, and Grenier (Lyon) would accept their invitations to travel to Brazil.

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Messi: I want Brazil final

Argentina forward Lionel Messi says he would love to play against Brazil in the World Cup final at the Maracana.
The host nation have already reached the quarter-final stage after beating Chile on penalties and Alejandro Sabella’s side could join them on Tuesday when they face Switzerland in Sao Paulo.
The format for the draw means that the two sides would meet in the final should they win all of their remaining games, and it is a mouthwatering thought for the Barcelona man, who knows how much it would mean to the supporters.
He said: “I’d be lying to say that it wouldn’t be very special. Brazil against Argentina in the final at the Maracana? That would be some dream, wouldn’t it?
“You can only imagine how much the people back home in Argentina would love it if we could beat Brazil – it would be talked about forever.
“I know the passion of our people, and they have just as much love for football as the Brazilians do, it is fantastic. We should have a lot of fans in Brazil, too, so hopefully our games can feel like home matches, even though they aren’t”.
The three-time Ballon d’Or winner scored a goal in each of Argentina’s three Group F fixtures and says he would love to win the tournament’s Golden Boot, but would sacrifice his goals for a World Cup triumph.
“I like to score goals, and if I could get the Golden Boot, it would be something very special for me. But more importantly, it would mean that Argentina are doing well.
“The team of the Golden Boot winner usually makes it to the semi finals or further, and that is what we want. But I would happily not score any goals and swap that for a World Cup!”
The 27-year-old was part of the Argentina side that was beaten 4-0 by Germany in the quarter-finals at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, but he believes it was an experience that helped the team learn lessons and grow.
“It was very disappointing losing to Germany, but they were an excellent side on the day. They still are.
“We learned that you have to concentrate hard, every moment. We are more focused than ever on the job in hand this time around. The most important thing is that the team be strong, that they be together, and they fight for each other”