Zidane plays down Varane's omission from France's Euro 2012 list

Real Madrid sporting director Zinedine Zidane has said that he is not surprised that Raphael Varane will not make France's squad for Euro 2012.

The 19-year-old defender was not included in Laurent Blanc's foreign-based list for Poland and Ukraine, which was announced last week.

However, Zidane, who played a key role in Varane's transfer from Lens to Madrid last summer, says that the centre-back still has much to learn before he can become a regular for Les Bleus.

"It is certainly too soon," Zidane is quoted by RMC as saying. "He must still impose himself and play more.

"He has only played some 15 matches for Madrid, but what he has done is extraordinary.

"Why not next season?"

France will kick off their Euro 2012 campaign against England before they lock horns with Ukraine and Sweden.