Crystal Palace defender Mamadou Sakho is delighted to be back with the France team.

It is two years since Sakho was axed before Euro 2016 after a doping test - later to be proved wrong - showed up a positive result.

Sakho told Foot Mercato: "I'm proud. It's always nice to meet the teammates, to find the blue jersey, Clairefontaine.

"This jersey is the Grail. After that I'm someone who, when he focuses on something, wants the maximum of course. In football, the highest peak for a French player is to wear this blue jersey. To defend the colors of his nation is extraordinary. It's always fun and we are always motivated to do this."

Asked if the past two-years were an "eternity", Sakho remained upbeat.

"No, sincerely it's not my mentality to think like that. When we have good news or less good, it is simply to move forward, to turn the page, to savour. I have always remained myself working very hard."