Olympique Marseille’s goalkeeper Steve Mandanda stops the ball during their French Ligue 1 soccer match against Lille at the Grand Stade Lille Metropole Stadium in Villeneuve d’Ascq April 14, 2013. REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol
By Julien and Pretot PARIS (Reuters) – Second-choice goalkeeper Steve Mandanda has been ruled out of the World Cup after cracking a vertebra in his neck playing for Olympique Marseille on Saturday. Mandanda was hit in the face by Mustapha Yatabare’s knee during OM’s 1-0 win against En Avant Guingamp in their final Ligue 1 fixture. OM doctor Christophe Baudot told the club’s website (www.om.net) on Sunday: “Steve Mandanda is suffering from a crack in his first cervical vertebra and from a cervical sprain. “It will require wearing a neck brace for three weeks and the same amount of time in physiotherapy.” Mandanda confirmed his withdrawal on his Twitter feed. “It is with great sadness that I announce that I will not be able to take part in the World Cup,” he said. Mandanda, who has 16 caps, is number two behind captain Hugo Lloris. He has been replaced by St Etienne’s Stephane Ruffier, the French federation said in a statement. Coach Didier Deschamps has not replaced Ruffler in the list of players on stand by. The World Cup finals begin on June 12. France are in Group E with Ecuador, Switzerland and Honduras, who they face in their opener on June 15. (Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Clare Lovell and Tim Collings)