Vieira slams Deschamps over Nasri World Cup omission
17 May 2025
Patrick Vieira has publicly criticised France manager Didier Deschamps for omitting Samir Nasri from the squad selected for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
The former Arsenal captain and French international, now part of Manchester City’s coaching staff, believes Deschamps made a crucial error in leaving out the attacking midfielder. Nasri, who enjoyed a strong season with Manchester City, was widely expected to feature among Les Bleus’ 23-man squad.
“When you talk about football, you have to choose your best player,” Vieira told The Guardian. “And when you’re a top coach, you have to deal with the players’ character.”
Vieira, who worked alongside Nasri at both club and international level, rejected the notion that the midfielder posed a problem off the pitch. “At City, we never heard anything about him. In France, sometimes, they’re not strong enough to deal with personalities.”
“It’s surprising because Deschamps has personality and experience. If you want to win the World Cup, you have to select your best player. Samir was fantastic this year—scoring, assisting, and showing maturity,” Vieira added.
Nasri’s exclusion sparked debate in France, with some citing his temperament as a factor, while others, like Vieira, argue the decision could cost Les Bleus on the pitch.
