The Real Madrid coach has insisted France cannot afford not to select a player of the striker's calibre as he continues to be excluded from international football

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has urged the French Football Federation (FFF) to allow Karim Benzema to represent his country at Euro 2016.

Benzema has been suspended by the FFF until the legal investigation into his involvement in an alleged plot to blackmail international team-mate Mathieu Valbuena has been concluded.

That has put his participation at the home European Championship this summer in doubt and Zidane says Les Bleus will be seriously damaging their chances of victory if Benzema is not involved.

"France cannot afford to ignore a player of Benzema's calibre," Zidane told Le Foot.

"When we look at his numbers and everything he does on the field, we cannot let a player of this level go."