There was a time when Moussa Sissoko was ostracised at Tottenham and somehow, repeatedly, he found himself called up by Didier Deschamps and placed into the France team.
Mauricio Pochettino hadn’t been impressed with the Frenchman’s contribution, but his national manager was, even if it perplexed some in the French media and around the country generally.
Now the situation is very much different, with Sissoko getting games under Pochettino at Tottenham, but seeing his national team chances wobble somewhat.
L’Equipe say Sissoko is ‘losing ground’ as a rotation player for France. Deschamps doesn’t use him in central midfield, and there’s better and more natural options on the right.
There’s not really a great deal Sissoko can do about the situation. 
He can’t sulk too much about a lack of Tottenham chances, and can’t feel too aggrieved that several France players have edged ahead of him.
Short of going into a run of blistering Tottenham form, this is likely to be how it continues, and Sissoko will hope Deschamps’ longer term reliance on him is enough to secure a place in Russia next summer.
