PARIS, (Reuters) – Experienced midfielder Patrick Vieira was left out of France’s World Cup squad yesterday.

The former French captain was not included by coach Raymond  Domenech in a provisional 30-man squad for the June 11-July 11  finals in South Africa.

The 33-year-old Manchester City player has won 107 caps and  was a member of the team who lifted the World Cup in 1998 and  won the European Championship two years later.

Domenech, however, ruled out Vieira, still a gifted player  but not as mobile as in his heyday.

“We have been following Pat for a while, hoping he could  make it to the World Cup,” Domenech told a news conference.

“It’s a difficult moment. We tried, he did too. It’s tough  but comes a time when you need to make a decision”.

Domenech, who had promised to name an official 23-man list  but changed his mind at the last minute, faced a selection  headache with several players struggling for fitness, no longer  regular starters at their clubs or simply past their prime.

Striker Karim Benzema, hardly ever in the starting line-up  at Real Madrid, was also left out along with midfielder Samir  Nasri, despite convincing recent performances for Arsenal.

“Karim has talent and he will come back,” Domenech said of  Benzema. “He’s had a difficult season with Real and we needed  players who were fresh and hungry.”

UNCAPPPED PLAYERS

The France coach called up five uncapped players, including  teenage Stade Rennes midfielder Yann M’Vila, the big surprise on  the list, and Olympique Marseille midfielder Mathieu Valbuena.

A prominent member of the France side for a decade, Vieira  last played for his country in June 2009, wearing the armband in  a 1-0 friendly defeat by Nigeria.

His absence means that for the first time since winning the  World Cup on home soil, France will play a major tournament  without any player from the team who stunned Brazil 3-0 in the  1998 final at Stade de France.

“It was a challenge for me but I will not be able to play  one last major tournament for France,” Vieira told Canal Plus  television. “He (Domenech) made a choice on sporting grounds, I  accept that.” Thierry Henry, now the France captain, was in the 1998 squad  but did not play in the final.

Usually a substitute for Barcelona, Henry, whose infamous  handball helped France qualify for the World Cup at the expense  of Ireland, plays a big role in Domenech’s plans.

Defender William Gallas, who has been sidelined by a calf  injury, was included in the provisional squad for the finals,  where the 2006 runners-up will meet hosts South Africa, Mexico  and Uruguay in the group stage.

Domenech, who has faced criticism ever since his side’s Euro  2008 flop and is booed by the France fans at every match, has  until June 1 to turn his list into an official 23-strong squad.