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Deschamps answers question as to Hatem Ben Arfa making the 2016 Euros

8 years ago
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The early season form of Hatem Ben Arfa for Nice, has led to a groundswell of support amongst French football fans to see him back in the France squad.

When naming his last squad, Didier Deschamps raised a few eyebrows by not including the former Newcastle player, especially with the game being played at Hatem Ben Arfa’s new home stadium.

The winger has kept putting in the performances and now has seven goals in 10 Ligue 1 matches, the idea of him being selected becoming more and more irresistible for the football public in France.

Interviewed by Eurosport, the subject was raised once again.

Didier Deschamps admitted that the player was in his thoughts and we would find out next week when he names his new squad.

However, Deschamps said that he won’t hold a grudge from the days of their big falling out at Marseille when the pair were club manager and player.

The French boss adding that there is the added difficulty of removing a player to accommodate a new one, though with a mixed bag of results in recent friendlies there is pressure on a number of players.

This reality of having to impress in club football to make next summer’s Euros could well be a big factor in Moussa Sissoko’s much improved form of recent games.

Deschamps had already made clear his players had to be playing regular club football to make the squad and now possibly he may have given an extra reminder that putting in the performances is also quite important…

Didier Deschamps asked by Eurosport as to whether he would pick Hatem Ben Arfa:

“I did not say no. Why not? My reflections on the issue will come next week based on what he has done with Nice.

“If someone can bring something to the France team, it doesn’t matter that they had a problem with me.”

“There are players who are in the squad and who give me satisfaction.

“To recall a new player I have to remove one, I won’t accumulate players – these are decisions that have to be made with a view to the competition.”

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