PARIS -- Frances World Cup ambitions were dealt a significant blow when winger Franck Ribery failed to overcome a back injury and was ruled out of the squad on Friday. Calle Rosen Jersey . Coach Didier Deschamps hoped Ribery would play a part in the friendly against Jamaica on Sunday, but the Bayern Munich winger was replaced by Montpellier winger Remy Cabella. Cabella was on the reserve list and has made just one substitute appearance for France. In another setback for Deschamps, attacking midfielder Clement Grenier was also withdrawn with a recurrence of a groin injury that has hampered him all season for Lyon. "We have to remain ambitious," Deschamps said. "Obviously with Ribery at 100 per cent were a better team, but well try and be a good team without him." The 23-year-old Grenier tore his right groin in training on Thursday and has been replaced by Southamptons Morgan Schneiderlin, who has never played for France. "Im very sad for them," Deschamps said. "I wasnt expecting this. If they were here its because I was counting on them, and the signs were very positive." Deschamps said both players were distraught when they realized they will not be on the plane to Brazil. "How do you think (they felt)? Theyre missing out on the World Cup," Deschamps said. "Of course there are worse things in life, but they are the first to be affected by it." The 31-year-old Ribery missed the previous two friendlies -- a 4-0 win against Norway and a 1-1 draw against Paraguay on Sunday -- but Deschamps was optimistic he would recover in time to play against Jamaica. Ribery had shown "positive signs of improvement" this week after increasing "the intensity of his work," Deschamps said. But that was when Ribery was training alone, and when he stepped up his routine in a bid to be ready to join in with his teammates, he suddenly pulled up in pain on Friday. "Franck had felt a lot better but his situation got much worse as we started to try and get him to take part in collective training," Deschamps said. "He is unable to train for a few weeks now and even less so to play." His final appearance of the season for Bayern was as a substitute in the German Cup final win against Borussia Dortmund on May 17. He had been rested since the 4-0 defeat to Real Madrid in the return leg of their Champions League semifinal on April 29. Ribery has 16 goals in 81 appearances for France and is the teams best attacking player. That mantle now rests with Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema. Ribery was third to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in voting for the worlds best player in January. It is a particularly bitter blow for Ribery considering how he had turned public opinion back in his favour, following a spectacular fall from grace at the last World Cup in 2010, when he was perceived to be a ringleader of Frances infamous training ground strike and banned for three matches by the French Football Federation. Deschamps must wait for FIFAs medical officers to validate his request to include Cabella and Schneiderlin in his World Cup list. They were set to join up with the squad at the Clairefontaine training camp late Friday. France flies out to Brazil on Monday, with spirits dampened following the loss of their talismanic player. Dave Keon Jersey . -- Ricky Romeros comeback bid hit another road bump Tuesday in an ugly 18-4 Jays loss to a Detroit Tigers split squad. Connor Brown Jersey . Tortorella told The Vancouver Province hell be cheering for Team Sweden to win gold when they take on the defending Olympic champions on Sunday morning. "I hope Sweden wins, cause I dont think Hammer (Dan Hamhuis) is going to play, judging by whats happened. http://www.shopmapleleafsonline.com/Maple-Leafs-Auston-Matthews-Adidas-Jersey/ .Y. - For once, Clayton Kershaw was glad to see a long shutout streak end.TORONTO - DeMar DeRozan has become a student of the game in his absence with a groin injury, soaking in lessons from the sidelines that he says will make him a better player.The Toronto Raptors, however, will have to wait a little while longer to see the fruits of his labour.The Raptors are playing it safe with DeRozan, who originally had hoped to play Thursday versus the visiting Charlotte Hornets, but said he is now targeting some time next week for his return.Just coming and practising the last couple of days, just getting back involved, letting my teammates know Im back out there, I owe that to them not to just jump back in a game, I want to get a couple more practices in over these next couple of days, then come back, DeRozan said Wednesday.DeRozan has been out of the lineup since he tore his groin tendon Nov. 28 against the Dallas Mavericks. He underwent more diagnostic tests on Tuesday and was cleared by doctors. He said he is pain free.It hasnt been an easy six weeks for the Raptors all-star, who had missed just 11 games total over his previous five seasons in the NBA.But the 25-year-old is always looking at ways to improve his game — including writing out his ABCs with his left hand last summer in an effort to improve his weaker hand.Its definitely been tough, but its a new challenge for me, DeRozan said. Ive grown more mentally, when it comes to basketball, (than) if I hadnt been hurt. . . Just watching the game and really understanding the game from a different level, understanding the things that I could do out there on the court that could affect the game, other ways I could figure out how to be better on the court.The Raptors (24-10) are third in the NBAs Eastern Conference behind first-place Atlanta and Chicago. In DeRozans absence, theyve plummetted from ninth place in the league defensively to 28th.Coach Dwane Casey said he had hoped to see DeRozan back Thursday — fingers crossed, toes crossed — but agrees with the decision to play it safe. He looks good in practice, but just for his safety and his future health, and his career, were going to be prudent as far as making sure we go at the right pace, bring him back at the right time, and its the right thing to do, Casey said. I know it kills him because hes champing at the bit, but Ive seen so many players have this same injury in their career, and you think youre back, but if those fibres have not grown back and matured in the right way, the least little torque could pull it out and hes out the rest of the year. Connor Carrick Jersey. So we want to be smart.DeRozan, who is averaging 19.4 points and 4.2 rebounds a game, rejoined practice last week, but said he would like about seven under his belt before stepping into a game.I think its bigger than me, he said. And, besides the last couple games the team lost, theyve been playing well. They have their rhythm and like I said, I dont just want to hop back out there.Theres a lot of new plays they put in that Ive still got to get down pat — plays for (Terrence Ross), plays for Kyle (Lowry) . . . So I want to make sure I get all that down pat before I come back.DeRozan had kind words for Lowry, who was named the Eastern Conference player of the month for December.Hes been amazing, man, honestly, DeRozan said. I cant even say words that can explain how hes been playing. He definitely took the team on his back.DeRozan said its been funny to watch Lowry running plays that would normally be his.Hes playing my position, so next game, every play he runs is my play. . . Just tell him, stop running my plays, DeRozan said. It kind of (makes) me happy though. . . but I tell them One thing yall cant do is get to the free throw line.The Raptors are averaging about seven fewer free throw attempts per game without DeRozan.His value in getting to the free throw line is one of those lessons that he said has really sunk in, watching his team from the sidelines.Especially in late-game situations with the game going too fast, I understand youve got to get to the free throw line, slow down the momentum, try to switch the momentum to our end, DeRozan said.DeRozan will rejoin the Raptors right before the balloting for the NBA all-star game concludes. He believes he and Lowry would have both been all-stars if not for his injury, but is certain Lowry will be named to the East team. Lowry was fourth among Eastern Conference guards on the most recent balloting. Hes in there. If he dont get in there with votes, hell get in there no matter what, DeRozan said, in reference to the fact coaches vote in the reserves. Hes been snubbed a couple of times in his career. I know hes in there so I dont need to send a vote or nothing. I know hes going to be in there. Cheap Canadiens Jerseys Cheap Predators Jerseys Cheap Devils Jerseys Cheap Islanders Jerseys Cheap Rangers Jerseys Cheap Senators Jerseys Cheap Flyers Jerseys Cheap Penguins Jerseys Cheap Sharks Jerseys Cheap Blues Jerseys Cheap Lightning Jerseys Cheap Maple Leafs Jerseys Cheap Canucks Jerseys Cheap Golden Knights Jerseys Cheap Capitals Jerseys Cheap Winnipeg Jets Jerseys ' ' '