France has elected their 23 warriors to reclaim the European title in the tournament they will host next month. Les Bleus, involved in a controversy over which players were going to be included, gave most of their top caliber players a nod to perform in front of their compatriots, but there were a few snubs that caught the eyes of their fans.
Deschamps' call up includes Antoine Griezmann, Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and Dimitri Payet, who will have to carry the team on their shoulders to try and win a tournament they haven't been able to win since the 2000 edition. Each of these players have been key for their teams, and French supporters will want them to do the same with Les Bleus starting June 10.
The underdogs in this list are N'Golo Kanté and André-Pierre Gignac. Two players that seemed to have no chance to make it to the European tournament ended up being selected by Didier Deschamps. Kanté's performance for Leicester City was crucial in their historical quest to win the EPL, while Gignac seemed to have gone under the radar, but managed to come back to the National Team by winning the Liga MX title with Tigres and keeping his good form whenever Deschamps called him up.
But there are some notable absences in Deschamps' list. First off, Karim Benzema and Mathieu Valbuena were excluded from the squad, given their problems off the pitch. Valbuena's place seemed to be quite sure, but his low form and issues off the pitch with fans saw him dropped off the squad. Other notable absences include Kevin Gameiro and Morgan Schneiderlin, although both players could still play the tournament if something happens, as both were included in the reserve list.
Here's France's 23-men squad for the tournament.
Et voici la liste des joueurs sélectionnés par Didier Deschamps et son staff pour l'@EURO2016 ! #FiersdetreBleuspic.twitter.com/teMC8XB2AA
— Equipe de France (@equipedefrance) May 12, 2016
And of course, fans reacted with mixed emotions after Deschamps made his team public.
Ben Arfa is out from France's squad. Unbelievable! Didier Deschamps might be having a brain damaged
— Papy Maotela M. K. (@PMaotela) May 12, 2016
Didier Deschamps needs his head testing after announcing that French squad
— Steven Steen (@StevSteen) May 12, 2016
"It's completely unfair for Kevin Gameiro not to be included in Deschamps' 23-man squad to play the Euro 2016"
Es una total injusticia que Kevin Gameiro no figure entre los 23 elegidos por Didier Deschamps para jugar con Francia el Euro 2016.
— Francesc Aguilar (@MDpor_elmundo) May 12, 2016
Mangala & Giroud? Didier Deschamps, Stop selling us out.
— #LVGOUT. (@DatGuyChris_) May 12, 2016
France squad for the Euros about to be announced by Didier Deschamps. One man who won't be there: pic.twitter.com/Rdek3Nq8Id
— Onefootball (@Onefootball) May 12, 2016
A very subtle suggestion to Didier Deschamps pic.twitter.com/lXtHl6VXw0
— OL News / English (@OLNews_eng) May 12, 2016
Wait, Lacazette isn't part of France's 23?!?!
— Marko Djordjević (@fakeimmigrant) May 12, 2016
That's ballsy!
Apart from Griezmann and Martial, France's attack is extremely lightweight. They will reach the quarters or semis max.
— Dahír (@dbotan7) May 12, 2016
Exclusive images of Didier Deschamps picking his France squad for #EURO2016 pic.twitter.com/Eekxuld7mL
— LuisMiguelEchegaray (@lmechegaray) May 12, 2016
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