(PA) Wednesday 16 May 2012
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Montpellier defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa admitted his selection for France's provisional 26-man squad for UEFA EURO 2012 caught him unawares.
Yanga-Mbiwa has been central to his side's surprise Ligue 1 title bid this season and was rewarded with his maiden call-up on Tuesday.
The 23-year-old is not content to rest on his laurels, though, and is determined to make Laurent Blanc's final 23, which will be announced on 29 May, two days after a warm-up match against Iceland.
"It's a surprise - I wasn't expecting this. I was just having a normal day, because I wasn't thinking about the announcement," he said.
"I'm very moved by the call-up and really very happy. It reflects the excellent season Montpellier have had. Still it's only for the preliminary squad, so I mustn't get carried away - I need to keep working hard.
"But why not think about going to the EUROs? It's a reward on a personal level but also collectively. It shows that Montpellier can produce talented players."
Loic Remy is also itching to go to Poland and Ukraine, although he faces a race against time to prove his fitness after picking up a thigh injury at the weekend that is set to rule him out for three to four weeks.
The Marseille striker, however, is heartened by his selection to the provisional squad and is focused on trying to shake off his complaint in time for 29 May.
"I'm not at the EUROs yet, but by including me in the preliminary squad even though I'm injured, Laurent Blanc and his staff have shown real confidence in me," he said.
"I'm going to redouble my efforts to recover, first with the medical staff at Marseille and then with the France team doctors, who are waiting for me. Right now the idea is that I will be able to run again around 27 or 28 May, and that's when we'll see whether I'm fit enough to go to the EUROs."
Yanga-Mbiwa has been central to his side's surprise Ligue 1 title bid this season and was rewarded with his maiden call-up on Tuesday.
The 23-year-old is not content to rest on his laurels, though, and is determined to make Laurent Blanc's final 23, which will be announced on 29 May, two days after a warm-up match against Iceland.
"It's a surprise - I wasn't expecting this. I was just having a normal day, because I wasn't thinking about the announcement," he said.
"I'm very moved by the call-up and really very happy. It reflects the excellent season Montpellier have had. Still it's only for the preliminary squad, so I mustn't get carried away - I need to keep working hard.
I'm very moved by the call-up and really very happy. It reflects the excellent season Montpellier have had.
Montpellier defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa on being called up by France
"But why not think about going to the EUROs? It's a reward on a personal level but also collectively. It shows that Montpellier can produce talented players."
Loic Remy is also itching to go to Poland and Ukraine, although he faces a race against time to prove his fitness after picking up a thigh injury at the weekend that is set to rule him out for three to four weeks.
The Marseille striker, however, is heartened by his selection to the provisional squad and is focused on trying to shake off his complaint in time for 29 May.
"I'm not at the EUROs yet, but by including me in the preliminary squad even though I'm injured, Laurent Blanc and his staff have shown real confidence in me," he said.
"I'm going to redouble my efforts to recover, first with the medical staff at Marseille and then with the France team doctors, who are waiting for me. Right now the idea is that I will be able to run again around 27 or 28 May, and that's when we'll see whether I'm fit enough to go to the EUROs."
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