Andre-Pierre Gignac has admitted that the absences of a trio of key players represents bad news for France at Euro 2016.
Les Bleus will be among the hot favourites for this summer’s European Championships, not least because of home advantage, but also because of a roster crammed with multi-talented players.
However, the French squad picked by Didier Deschamps will contest the continental showpiece without a trio of big-name stars.
Karim Benzema of Real Madrid, Liverpool’s Mamadou Sakho and Mathieu Valbuena of Olympique de Marseille will all be missing for various reasons, and Gignac, who has been selected in Deschamps’ squad, has admitted that their absences represent bad news for Les Bleus.
“Definitely,” the forward began, when asked directly by Orange, “when we consider their importance with the French team.”
Valbuena, missing after his form for Lyon dropped off this term, was described as a player the “most used and most decisive” during Deschamps’ era in charge.
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Benzema, who has been overlooked following a controversial season and a high-profile sextape scandal involving Valbuena, was described as having a “big talent” by Gignac, although the Mexico-based attacker certainly has more chance of first-team involvement with the Merengues frontman missing.
Finally, Gignac also lamented Sakho’s absence, with the Reds stopper—who misses out after being tested positive for a banned substance—having played a crucial role in recent seasons.