PARIS - Laurent Blanc has denied that the omission of Lyon midfielder Yoann Gourcuff from France’s UEFA EURO 2012 squad represents a risk.Les Bleus’ head coach drafted his former Bordeaux protege into his provisional 26-man squad but left him out along with Montpellier defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa when he selected his final party of 23. Marseille forward Loic Remy had already been ruled out by injury.The decision on Gourcuff was a particular surprise to observers craving his creativity but Blanc blamed the injury problems which restricted the 25-year-old to only 13 Ligue 1 appearances, and 10 starts, in the season just finished.The coach declined to say whether a good performance in the friendly against Iceland, which France won 3-2 with two of their goals coming after Gourcuff’s 75th-minute withdrawal, would have changed things.But he told L’Equipe: “I have read that it is a gamble, but that is not what I do. We brought him with the intention that he would play a key role in the team. Unfortunately, after five days of training he suffered an ankle injury, a recurring injury. As he was already behind the others, there were too many risks.”France’s 23-man squad to play Euro 2012:Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Lyon), Steve Mandanda (Marseille), Cedric Carrasso (Bordeaux)Defenders: Gael Clichy (Man City), Mathieu Debuchy (Lille), Patrice Evra (Man United), Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal), Philippe Mexes (AC Milan), Adil Rami (Valencia), Anthony Reveillere (Lyon).Midfielders: Hatem Ben Arfa (Newcastle), Yohan Cabaye (Newcastle), Alou Diarra (Marseille), Yann M’Vila (Rennes), Marvin Martin (Sochaux), Florent Malouda (Chelsea), Blaise Matuidi (PSG), Samir Nasri (Man City), Franck Ribery (Bayern). Attackers: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Olivier Giroud (Montpellier), Jeremy Menez (PSG), Mathieu Valbuena (Marseille).
