Varane ruled out of Euros

France have been forced to omit Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane from their Euro 2016 squad because of a thigh injury.

Varane suffered the problem over the weekend during training as Zinedine Zidane’s squad continue preparations for the Champions League final against neighbours Atletico in Milan on Saturday.

Scans confirmed that the 23-year-old had suffered a grade-two tear in his thigh, enough to rule him out for around three weeks.

Deschamps has acted swiftly to replace Varane and Sevilla’s Adil Rami has been drafted into Les Bleus’ 23-man party. A statement on the France Football Federation’s website read: “The clinical examination and MRI on Tuesday morning at the Rambouillet hospital in every way confirmed the initial diagnosis of the medical staff of Real Madrid, namely a torn left biceps femoris grade two.”

Didier Deschamps has decided not to retain Raphael Varane for Euro 2016. As a result, the coach made the decision to integrate Adil Rami in the list of 23.”

Deschamps had overlooked Rami when he named his squad earlier this month. The French coach suggested he had elected to pick the best team rather than the best individuals – something that clearly rankled the Sevilla defender when he spoke to Radio Monte Carlo last Friday.

“I feel like he is saying that I am not a good man, that I am a hooligan. If we are talking about football, I don’t see why I am not going to the Euros,” Rami said. Tournament hosts France face Romania at the Stade de France in Euro 2016 curtain-raiser on June 10, with Les Bleus 4.00 to go on and win Euro 2016 this summer.