France’s defensive woes continued yesterday when defender Jeremy Mathieu was ruled out of the Euro 2016 finals with a calf injury, coach Didier Deschamps’s third backline setback in a month.

Barcelona’s versatile defender Mathieu is being replaced in the squad by Samuel Umtiti of Olympique Lyon.

Real Madrid centre back Raphael Varane was also ruled out with a thigh injury and Deschamps had omitted Mamadou Sakho after the Liverpool defender’s failed drugs test.

Sakho’s provisional 30-day suspension, however, will not be extended by UEFA, according to L’Equipe, meaning Deschamps would be free to include him before the May 31 deadline.

Injured Messi worries Argentina

Lionel Messi, recovering from a bad knock to his back 10 days before Argentina’s opening Copa America Centenario match, was feeling less pain yesterday, team doctor Daniel Martinez said.

“Messi is better, with less pain than last night,” Martinez said after Messi suffered bruising to his lower back and rib cage during Friday’s 1-0 win over Honduras.

But Martinez added that he could not say how long Messi’s recovery would take.

“We’ve got to take it day-by-day... It’s an area where it hurts to move normally, (like) get up, turn and cough,” he was quoted as saying in the sports daily Ole.

Grigg in N. Ireland 23-man Euro squad

Will Grigg’s place in Northern Ireland’s 23-man Euro 2016 squad has been confirmed, but Liam Boyce, Billy McKay, Daniel Lafferty, Michael Smith and Ben Reeves have all been left out by manager Michael O’Neill.

The announcement for the country’s first finals squad in 30 years was made at the Titanic Belfast museum yesterday, though the unlucky quintet were informed of their fate earlier this week and missed Friday’s 3-0 victory over Belarus.

Grigg, whose 25 goals fired Wigan to the League One title, opened his international account against Belarus.

Benitez deal a coup – Shepherd

Former Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd believes current owner Mike Ashley has “pulled a rabbit out of the hat” by persuading Rafael Benitez to stay on as manager following the club’s relegation to the Championship.

Benitez, 56, has signed a three-year deal at St James’ Park, and Shepherd believes it is a major coup for the Tynesiders.

He said: “It has to go down as the best bit of business Mike Ashley has done since he took over. He has pulled a rabbit out of the hat by getting him to stay.

“They needed someone like Rafa to organise things in the same way Chris Hughton did the last time we went down.”

Ibra’s agent plays down United talk

The agent of Zlatan Ibrahimovic has said the striker’s next move will be a “surprise” and suggested he will not be joining Manchester United.

Ibrahimovic, 34, has been heavily linked with a move to United, where he would reunite with his former Inter coach Jose Mourinho, with talk that he could form part of the coaching staff at Old Trafford.

Agent Mino Raiola has told Swedish newspaper Expressen that nothing has been decided.

“We haven’t decided anything yet. I think it will be a surprise in the end,” he said.

“There are some clubs in England, some clubs in Europe, clubs outside Europe. Everyone assumes he must go to Manchester United, but that’s not the case.”

Lewandowski has held Real talks

Robert Lewandowski’s agent has confirmed the Bayern Munich striker has held talks over a move to Real Madrid.

Madrid have been linked with a move for Lewandowski, 27, for several months, with AS publishing a picture of one of his agents, Cezary Kucharski, in the VIP box at the Bernabeu in December.

“Real Madrid approached us a few weeks ago,” Kucharski told the print edition of Der Spiegel. “We have listened to everything and informed Bayern that we have held talks with Madrid.”

Lewandowski joined Bayern from Borussia Dortmund in 2014 but he said he would be interested in a change of scenery.

Hazard expects to stay at Chelsea

Eden Hazard has said he is “99 per cent” certain to stay at Chelsea next season.

After winning a host of individual awards as Chelsea won the Premier League title and League Cup in 2014-15, Hazard has endured a highly disappointing season, failing to produce his best form until the final weeks of the campaign as the club ended the campaign without silverware.

The 25-year-old Belgium international has been linked with a move to PSG and Real Madrid but he plans to stay put.

“If I tell you I’m staying at Chelsea with 100 per cent certainty, this is not the case,” he said.

“After, the Euros I will think of Chelsea, but I want to finish well at the club.”

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