Rami and Umtiti named in France squad

Rami and Umtiti named in France squad

June 01, 2016
(From L) France's goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, defenders Adil Rami, Patrice Evra and midfielder N'Golo Kante react after a goal scored by Cameroon during the friendly football match in Nantes, western France, Monday. — AFP
(From L) France's goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, defenders Adil Rami, Patrice Evra and midfielder N'Golo Kante react after a goal scored by Cameroon during the friendly football match in Nantes, western France, Monday. — AFP

PARIS — France coach Didier Deschamps confirmed his final Euro 2016 squad on Tuesday, including defenders Adil Rami and Samuel Umtiti in place of the injured Raphael Varane and Jeremy Mathieu.

Liverpool center back Mamadou Sakho was not included even though his 30-day provisional suspension for failing a drugs test expired last weekend.
Host France geared up for the Finals with a 3-2 victory over Cameroon in Nantes Monday. It takes on Scotland in Metz Saturday.

Les Bleus face Romania in Group A in the opening game of the tournament on June 10 before playing Albania and Switzerland.

Spain names uncapped Vazquez

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has included uncapped Real Madrid forward Lucas Vazquez in his 23-man squad for next month's European Championship.
Vazquez made 33 appearances for Real in all competitions this season and scored in the penalty shootout to help his team win Saturday's Champions League final against Atletico Madrid.

Holder Spain won the Euros in 2008 and 2012.

Bale, Ledley in Wales team

Gareth Bale headlined the 23-man Wales squad for Euro 2016 announced by manager Chris Coleman Tuesday, while Joe Ledley was included just three weeks after fracturing his leg.

Bale, Wales' top scorer in qualifying with seven goals, arrives fresh from scoring in the penalty shootout as Real Madrid defeated Atletico Madrid Saturday to give him his second Champions League title.

Ledley, capped 62 times, fractured his left fibula during Crystal Palace's 2-1 win over Stoke City in the Premier League on May 7, but took part in Wales' training camp in Portugal last week.

Newcastle United left-back Paul Dummett and young Wigan Athletic midfielder Emyr Huws were among the players who dropped out of Wales' provisional 29-man squad.

Coleman's men open their Euro 2016 Group B campaign against Slovakia in Bordeaux on June 11 before playing neighbor England in Lens five days later and then tackling Russia in Toulouse on June 20.

Terim mixes youth and experience

Turkey Tuesday announced its final 23-man squad for Euro 2016, with coach Fatih Terim mixing established stars like Arda Turan of Barcelona with promising young talent like Danish-born Emre Mor.

Terim chopped eight players from the original 31-man provisional squad announced earlier this month with the most prominent names to be disappointed Gokhan Tore of Besiktas and Mevlut Erding of Guingamp.

A huge responsibility will rest on the shoulders of team captain and talisman Turan, 29, who endured a frustrating season parked on the bench at Barcelona after moving from Atletico Madrid where he had won iconic status.

Also in the limelight will be midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu of Bayer Leverkusen, widely regarded as the finest player in the side and a brilliant executor of free kicks.

Turkey has been drawn in Group D along with reigning champions Spain, Croatia and the Czech Republic.

Navas out of Copa America

Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas has been ruled out of the Copa America with an Achilles tendon injury, the Costa Rican Football Federation announced Tuesday.

A scan at his club Real Madrid confirmed the injury for the 29-year-old, who has been struggling with recurring problems with his left foot for over a year.

Navas became the first Costa Rican to win the Champions League Saturday in Real's penalty-shootout victory over Atletico Madrid in Milan.

Costa Rica, which was surprise quarterfinalist in the 2014 World Cup, kicks off its Copa America campaign in the United States against Paraguay Saturday.


June 01, 2016
HIGHLIGHTS