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Cabaye: 'We're Representing Newcastle In Brazil'
Written by Newcastle Utd
On his return to Tyneside, having helped France qualify for the World Cup, Yohan Cabaye spoke exclusively to nufc.co.uk
By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor
Yohan Cabaye believes the Magpies' World Cup-bound stars will not only be representing their respective nations in Brazil next summer, but also Newcastle United.
Earlier this week, Cabaye and club teammate Mathieu Debuchy were instrumental as France overturned a 2-0 qualifying play-off first-leg deficit against Ukraine to book their place in the 2014 finals.
Alongside them in the triumphant Les Bleus' squad were Moussa Sissoko and Loic Remy, while Cheick Tiote's Ivory Coast and Shola Ameobi's Nigeria also secured World Cup spots through the play-off system. Already qualified were goalkeeper Tim Krul, with Holland, and Argentine defender Fabricio Coloccini.
With the likes of Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Yoan Gouffran, Hatem Ben Arfa, Davide Santon and Vurnon Anita all sure to be pushing for places for their respective nations, United could have a lengthy cast list when the greatest show on earth kicks off next June.
And Cabaye believes that would be a fair reflection of the quality in the St. James' Park dressing room.
"The World Cup is a long time away but I cannot wait," he told nufc.co.uk in an exclusive interview.
"It is a big competition for every football player - the biggest - and I want to be in it. I am very happy and am now waiting for the draw to find out which teams we are going to play.
"It is good for the Club that so many players could be going. We know we are a good team with good players and so it is no surprise that Newcastle will have so many at the World Cup.
"We will be representing Newcastle United as well as our countries when we are out in Brazil."
On Tuesday in Paris, efforts from Mamadou Sakho and Karim Benzema, along with an Oleh Husyev own-goal, completed a remarkable turnaround for France.
And Cabaye revealed he and colleagues never lost sight of their target.
"It is a nice feeling because we were 2-0 down before the second leg and it was going to be difficult to come back," said the midfielder.
"But we did the right things in the game to get through.
"We always believed. The spirit from everyone was amazing, from start to finish, and we were very confident.
"We knew we would get chances to score and once the first goal went in we pushed on and managed to score enough to get through."