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Franck Ribery rues World Cup absence

Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery explains his disappointment at missing the World Cup for France.

France international Franck Ribery has admitted that he was left "bitter" after he was forced to withdraw from his country's World Cup squad.

The Bayern Munich star was expected to be one of Les Blues' leading players in Brazil, but was forced to pull out from the 23-man squad just days before the tournament began.

He told the club's official website: "Injuries occur from time to time, but just before a World Cup, that was bitter. Especially since I was great in shape. That was a big disappointment for me.

"I was really looking forward to Brazil. But now is also good. I do not want to think about [the World Cup], but look forward. I'm looking forward to the new season.

"Of course I'm not at 100%, but that's normal. I lost my rhythm [during the injury]. My game is based on explosiveness and speed. I have to get this back."

Ribery finished third in the Ballon d'Or vote earlier this year as Cristiano Ronaldo beat Lionel Messi to the title.

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Bayern's Franck Ribery celebrates after scoring his team's first goal against Werder Bremen during their Bundesliga match on April 26, 2014
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Bayer LeverkusenB. Leverkusen26224066184870
2Bayern MunichBayern26193478314760
3Stuttgart26182660312956
4Borussia DortmundDortmund26148453322150
5RB Leipzig26154760322849
6Eintracht FrankfurtFrankfurt26101064235740
7Augsburg269894342135
8Hoffenheim2696114450-633
9Freiburg2696113648-1233
10Werder Bremen2686123541-630
11Heidenheim2678113544-929
12Borussia MonchengladbachBorussia M'bach26610104650-428
13Union BerlinUnion Berlin2684142542-1728
14Wolfsburg2667133144-1325
15VfL BochumVfL Bochum26510113054-2425
16Mainz 05Mainz26310132246-2419
17FC Koln2639142047-2718
18SV Darmstadt 98Darmstadt2627172665-3913


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