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France are seen as one of the pre-tournament favourites (especailly on home soil), and on the basis of this squad it is easy to see why.
Didier Deschamps has named his 23-man squad for the European Championships well in advance of the deadline, and, as expected, it is brimming with talent.
Despite the exclusion of Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema and Liverpool’s Mamadou Sakho, Deschamps still has a wealth of talent to call upon.
Rennes goalkeeper Benoît Costil is the only uncapped player in an otherwise experienced (yet relatively youthful) squad.
Full 23-Man France Squad For The European Championship Finals
Goalkeepers: Benoît Costil (Rennes), Steve Mandanda (Marseille), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham)
Defenders: Lucas Digne (Roma), Patrice Evra (Juventus), Christophe Jallet (PSG), Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal), Eliaquim Mangala (Man City), Jérémy Mathieu (Barcelona), Bacary Sagna (Man City), Raphaël Varane (Real Madrid)
Midfielders: Yohan Cabaye (Crystal Palace), Lassana Diarra (Marseille), N’Golo Kanté (Leicester), Blaise Matuidi (PSG), Paul Pogba (Juventus), Moussa Sissoko (Newcastle)
Forwards: Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich), André-Pierre Gignac (UANL), Olivier Giroud (Arsenal), Antoine Griezmann (Atlético Madrid), Anthony Martial (Man United), Dimitri Payet (West Ham)
As expected, no surprises in Deschamps’ 23 men squad for the Euros. Lacazette, Gameiro, Ben Arfa only in reserves pic.twitter.com/YfPKEz6Mly
— Julien Laurens (@LaurensJulien) May 12, 2016
Deschamps has also named an eight-man standby list for those who did not make the initial party of 23. Included are Man United midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin and former Newcastle midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa, in a further show of the ludicrous levels of strength in depth enjoyed by France.
Standby List: Alphonse Areola (Villarreal), Hatem Ben Arfa (Nice), Kevin Gameiro (Sevilla), Alexandre Lacazette (Lyon), Adrien Rabiot (PSG), Djibril Sidibé (Lille), Samuel Umtiti (Lyon)
