Robert had expected to feature following the withdrawal of Zinedine Zidane, Patrick Vieira and Robert Pires, only to see his frustration compounded by the introduction of Reds midfielder Cheyrou.
Robert said: "This is an enormous disappointment, I really thought my turn had come with all those absences.
"I thought that the French team's technical staff knew my value at Newcastle but I've never been contacted by Santini nor his assistants.
"What makes me the most bitter is to see that Bruno Cheyrou was called up, I was shocked.
"I thought I had brought a lot to the French team in the past."