Moustapha Sonko has become another injury casualty for France and will not play for Les Bleus in qualifying games this summer for next year's European Championships.

The Malaga point guard, called up by national team coach Claude Bergeaud only last week, has been bothered by a right ankle injury since April and has decided to rest instead of taking part in the September qualifying games against Slovenia, the Czech Republic and Poland.

"My current state just does not allow me to play," Sonko said in L'Equipe.

"I have sprained my right ankle and it's lasted for a month and a half. I took part in the play-offs to help my team and that hasn't helped. France will have to do without me.

"Claude might have thought I would be ready on time but I was clear with him. I said I would help the national team but only if I was okay, physically. And it is out of question for me to play right now in that state."

France will be expected to qualify for Belgrade, but Bergeaud will have to be successful without three players.

In addition to the 6ft 4in Sonko, who played last summer in Sweden, the captain of last year's team at the European Championships, San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker, has decided not to make himself available.

And Pamesa Valencia's Antoine Rigaudeau, who was set to come out of retirement and fill in for Parker, has also been ruled out because of injury.

In addition to the absences of key players, difficult opposition will make reaching Belgrade extremely tough.

Slovenia are already one of the top sides in Europe and were at the last Eurobasket in Sweden, while the Czech Republic and Poland are two sides who enjoyed substantial improvement in the last semi-final round.