Mathieu Valbuena: France squad snub for Euro 2016 a 'huge disappointment'

Mathieu Valbuena says he is greatly disappointed to be left off of France's squad for Euro 2016 this summer.

The hosts announced their 23-man team on Thursday, but the Lyon midfielder was not even included in manager Didier Deschamps' standby list.

"He strung together a lot of injuries and his performances were below what he's capable of," Deschamps said of Valbuena. "And he was in competition with players who were performing very well. Those that were in the 23 but also those that are on standby."

The 31-year-old, who has made over 50 appearances for France since 2010, wrote of his surprise in an Instagram post on Thursday.

"It is therefore official that I will not participate in the Euros in France," Valbuena wrote.

"Whatever the reasons, sporting or non-sporting, justified or not, my non-selection is a huge disappointment.

"Both because of my involvement in the French national team for many years, but also my affection for the France shirt and my country."

C'est donc acté, je ne participerai pas à l'Euro en France. Quelles qu'en soient les raisons, sportives ou extra-sportives, justifiées ou non, ma non-sélection est une immense déception, tant en raison de mon implication au sein de l'équipe de France depuis de nombreuses années, que de mon attachement pour le maillot français et mon pays. Cette saison a été marquée par des évènements qui, à l'évidence, ont eu des conséquences sur mes performances et cette non-sélection. Pour l'heure, il me semble important, par respect pour mes coéquipiers et l'équipe de France, de laisser sereinement se dérouler la compétition. Je ne prendrai donc pas la parole dans les médias jusqu'à la fin de l'Euro. Je m'exprimerai ultérieurement sur la saison écoulée et les faits qui ont pu me concerner. Merci à tous ceux qui me soutiennent, et je souhaite un superbe parcours à l'équipe de France lors de cet Euro. #equipedefrance

A photo posted by Mathieu Valbuena (@mv28_officiel) on

May 12, 2016 at 12:52pm PDT

Deschamps had already flagged that Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema would not be selected as a result of his involvement in the blackmail case involving Valbuena.

The midfielder added: "This season has been marked by events that obviously had repercussions on my performances and this non-selection. I won't talk in the media before the Euros are finished.

"Out of respect to my teammates and the whole France team, I will speak later about the season and the facts that could have been related to me.

"Thank you to all those who support me, and I wish a great route for the French team at this Euro."