World Cup 2014: France on the drift after Ribery ruled out with back injury

Who will replace the left winger in France's starting line-up?

France have drifted significantly in the World Cup winner market after star winger Franck Ribery was ruled out of the finals. His absence leaves coach Didier Deschamps with a major headache, writes James Eastham.

The news that Ribery has been ruled out with a back injury, broke on Friday afternoon after he failed a fitness test in the morning.

The Bayern Munich star had sat out France's recent friendlies and looked increasingly unlikely to be ready in time for the flight to Brazil on Monday morning.

France manager Didier Deschamps has called up Montpellier playmaker Remy Cabella as a replacement. Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin has also been called-up: he will replace Lyon playmaker Clement Grenier, ruled out by a groin problem.

Ribery's absence will obviously have an big impact on France's chances in Brazil. Widely tipped as potential dark horses in the tournament, les Bleus were trading at 28.027/1 (sixth favourites) to lift the trophy this morning but have already moved out to 32.031/1 following the news of Ribery's injury.

They may also be available at bigger than 1.855/6to win Group E - one of my fancies outlined in the France Team Guide - once the news of Ribery's injury seeps through to affect the other markets.

The four main qualities Ribery brought to the side were: experience, a goalscoring threat, a reliable ability to eliminate direct opponents in one-on-one situations and a good understanding with centre-forward Karim Benzema.

His understanding with the Madrid man and individual goalscoring ability will be particularly missed. The former Marseille and Galatasaray winger had scored 16 times in 80 international appearances, putting him second only to Benzema in the team's scoring charts.

The question now for coach Deschamps is how to replace Ribery. The most obvious solution is to pick Antoine Griezmann. The Real Sociedad winger was named in the original squad for the tournament and is a natural understudy in the left-wing position in France's expected 4-3-3 formation. An alternative would be Cabella, who has often operated on the left wing for his club, Montpellier.

Less likely options include shifting Mathieu Valbuena - pencilled in for the right wing position - to the left-hand side and drafting in Loic Remy starting on the right, or shunting Benzema out to the left wing and picking either Remy or Olivier Giroud in the centre-forward position.

France's opening game in Brazil is on Sunday 15 June against minnows Honduras.