International Break: Rennes spared by call-ups

Over the last few years, many Rennes players were brought to leave the Piverdière for one or two weeks after being called-up by their national squads.

In some occasions, up to 12 players were missing, making life very difficult for Frédéric Antonetti or previous general manager Guy Lacombe. Both men did not hide their annoyance, facing the impossibility to prepare their next game in good conditions

While national selections will be gathering again from Monday, for once, only a few players will be leaving Rennes and their team-mates.

Only Yacine Brahimi (France U21), Abdoulaye Diallo (France U19), Kader Mangane (Senegal A), Georges Mandjeck (Cameroon A) and Yann M’Vila (France A) will be missing in Rennes’ training grounds.

A low number of absent that is based on two principal explanations: First, the injuries of several players (Apam, Fanni, Tettey), but also the renewing of the U21 France squad after its elimination from the 2011 U21 Euro, leaving Carrasso, Kana-Biyik, Kembo Ekoko, Souprayen and Théophile-Catherine out of the future U21 squads.