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Didier Deschamps has confirmed that Lyon winger Mathieu Valbuena will not feature for France at this year’s European Championship.
Deschamps, who announced his 23-man squad to represent the host nation of this summer’s tournament, said the player had struggled for fitness and he didn’t want to risk him.
‘He suffered a lot of injuries, and also faced great competition for places this season,’ he told French television channel TF1 on Thursday.
Valbuena himself wrote on Instagram alongside a photograph of himself in a France shirt: ‘This season has been marked by events that obviously had repercussions on my performances and this non-selection. I won’t talk in the media before the Euro is finished.
‘I will speak later about the season and the facts that could have been related to me.’
Valbuena is among a number of experienced players who haven’t been selected in the final squad by Deschamps.
Alexandre Lacazette, Kevin Gameiro, Morgan Schneiderlin and Hatem Ben Arfa were only deemed good enough to be among the eight players who will make up the reserves.
Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema stated recently that he would not be linking up with his international team-mates for the competition.
His absence is due to problems off the pitch, when he was caught up in a blackmail scandal which also involved Valbuena.
Benzema tweeted previously: ‘Unfortunately for me and for all those who have always supported me, I will not be selected for our Euro in France.’
