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France call up Rami

AFP, Paris

Tue May 24, 2016 12:00 AM Last update on: Tue May 24, 2016 11:56 AM

Sevilla's French defender Adil Rami (2nd L) and Sevilla's Spanish defender Sergio Escudero (L) celebrate with supporters. Photo: AFP

France have called up Sevilla defender Adil Rami as cover for Raphael Varane, the French football federation said Monday.

Real Madrid said Sunday that Varane was a serious doubt for next weekend's Champions League final against Atletico Madrid and the start of France's Euro 2016 campaign after suffering a hamstring injury.

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Rami, the federation said, had been summoned "whilst awaiting further information on the state of the Real Madrid defender's health".

Rami, 30, has been capped 27 times by France and was a teamsheet favourite under Laurent Blanc's 2010-12 reign, but he has not been called up by France coach Didier Deschamps since June 2013.

Deschamps is already without a key defender as Liverpool's Mamadou Sakho was left out of his 23-man squad for the tournament due to a provisional doping ban.