Euro 2016 hosts France have an abundance of talent right now. Looking at the squad that they have selected for the finals this summer you immediately wonder how Didier Deschamps is going to manage to fit Antoine Griezmann, Dimitri Payet, and Anthony Martial in the same line-up.
Then you wonder how difficult it would have been with a non-blackmail sex tape embroiled Karim Benzema in the mix and you realise how spoilt the French football public are right now.
In fact, they are so rich that we think the best XI of players that they HAVEN'T selected would do a job for most teams in this tournament:
Stephane Ruffier and Football Manager favourite Alphonse Areola are two high quality goalkeepers that France are leaving behind. Although it might be hard to argue against Hugo Lloris and Steve Mandanda not being in the squad ahead of them.
It's the defence that we think Deschamps has a lot of quality left over. PSG left-back Layvin Kurzawa is unlucky to miss out to 34-year-old Patrice Evra, and Lucas Digne. Injuries have ruled out Kurt Zouma and Bilbao's Aymeric Laporte, as well as a suspension preventing Sakho from taking their place in the squad. That means that Man City defender Eliaquim Mangala gets a stay of execution in the squad ahead of Valencia's Adil Rami.
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A bad season at Man United seems to have cost Morgan Schneiderlin his place - with Lassana Diarra still hanging on in his place. Adrien Rabiot has also seen his spot go to the hard-running Blaise Matuidi, with Moussa Sissoko and Yohan Cabaye still a part of Deschamps' plans.
Despite the talents of Martial, Payet, and Griezmann - players like Benzema, Loic Remy, Jeremy Menez, Kevin Gamiero, Hatem Ben Arfa, and Alexandre Lacazette have all been overlooked/ruled out for various reasons. That's despite Ben Arfa's form seemingly being good enough to attract Barcelona in recent weeks.
OFFICIAL #EURO2016 SQUAD
France announce their 23... pic.twitter.com/RFwk7pfTZ1— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) May 12, 2016
See Also: Celtic Fans Laugh As One Of Their Least Impressive Players Made Belgium's Euro 2016 Squad
Picture credit: Pat Murphy / SPORTSFILE
