Nicolas Anelka, Florent Malouda and Gaël Clichy getting ready to South Africa 2010

Karim Benzema has been left out of France's preliminary World Cup squad, with coach Raymond Domenech saying it's because of the Real Madrid striker's unimpressive season rather than any alleged involvement in a sex scandal.

Benzema has often been left on the bench and scored only eight goals in the Spanish league this season after costing Madrid euro35 million ($44.4 million) in 2009.

Benzema has been linked in the French media with an underage sex scandal involving an escort. Franck Ribery and Sidney Govou have also been linked, but were included in the squad.

Veteran midfielder Patrick Vieira also didn't make the cut.

Domenech has until June 1 to cut the 30-man squad down to 23 players for the tournament in South Africa.

Squad:

Goalkeepers:

Cédric Carrasso (FCG Bordeaux)

Mickaël Landreau (LOSC)

Hugo Lloris (Ol. Lyon)

Steve Mandanda (Ol. Marseille)

Defenders:

Eric Abidal (FC Barcelone)

Gaël Clichy (Arsenal FC)

Patrice Evra (Manchester United)

Rod Fanni (Stade Rennais)

William Gallas (Arsenal FC)

Marc Planus (FCG Bordeaux)

Adil Rami (LOSC)

Anthony Reveillère (Ol. Lyonnais)

Bacary Sagna (Arsenal FC)

Sébastien Squillaci (Séville FC)

Midfielders:

Vassiriki Diaby (Arsenal FC)

Alou Diarra (FCG Bordeaux)

Lassana Diarra (Real Madrid FC)

Yoann Gourcuff (FCG Bordeaux)

Yann M'Vila (Stade Rennais)

Florent Malouda (Chelsea FC)

Jérémy Toulalan (Ol. Lyonnais)

Forwards:

Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea FC)

Hatem Ben Arfa (Ol. Marseille)

Jimmy Briand (Stade Rennais)

Djibril Cissé (Panathinaikos)

André-Pierre Gignac (Toulouse FC)

Sidney Govou (Ol. Lyonnais)

Thierry Henry (FC Barcelone)

Franck Ribéry (FC Bayern Munich)

Mathieu Valbuena (Ol. Marseille)