I have to feel a bit sorry for the Arsenal midfield star Francis Coquelin, as he has been ignored once again by Didier Deschamps, the manager of the France national team. We can only hope that this latest snub will inspire the 24-year old on to even greater efforts for the Gunners.
I can sort of understand why the France boss did not select our defensive midfielder for the international friendly matches with Netherlands and Russia over the next week or so. After all the young Gunner has been out of action due to injury for some time and is just getting back to his best.
On the other hand, I have to question the wisdom of Deschamps not to give Coquelin a chance before he was injured and after he had come back with a bang from his loan spell at Charlton. France have had five international breaks and 10 games in that time and they were all friendlies as they qualified for this summer’s tournament as hosts.
In that time Le Coq was getting rave reviews but the France boss has not bothered to even get him into training to see what he can do. Okay it is up to Deschamps and sometimes national coaches are cautious about new players, but what would be making me even more unhappy if I was Coquelin is the fact that Deschamps has just given the Leicester midfielder Kante his first call up.
Is young Francis doomed to be the Mikel Arteta of French football? And will this snub actually be good for Arsenal and Coquelin’s determination to impress?