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Gokhan Inler an absentee from Swizerland's Euro 2016 squad

Gokhan Inler is interesting Aston Villa and could move there when the transfer window opens next month
Image: Gokhan Inler has made five Premier League appearances since joining Leicester

Leicester City midfielder Gokhan Inler has been left out of Switzerland's provisional 28-man squad for Euro 2016.

Inler is a former captain of his country and has been capped 89 times but his appearances were scarce for Leicester during their amazing Premier League title-winning campaign and the 31-year-old voiced his concern that such inactivity may damage his international aspirations.

His fears were realised on Wednesday when Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic announced that the former Napoli man would not be among the group competing for places in the final 23-man squad.

"I am truly sorry for Gokhan," said Petkovic. "He is a great player, a great character, but I had to remain faithful to my ideas and my actions."

Other notable players who failed to earn selection include Norwich defender Timm Klose and Hertha Berlin midfielders Fabian Lustenberger and Valentin Stocker.

But Young Boys teenager Denis Zakaria has received his first international call-up and there are also places for Watford midfielder Valon Behrami and Stoke forward Xherdan Shaqiri.

 Xherdan Shaqiri was taken off after 65 minutes of stoke's win at Southampton
Image: Xherdan Shaqiri of Stoke is in Switzerland's provisional Euro 2016 squad

Pre-tournament training takes place in Lugano between May 22 and June 3, with Petkovic expected to name his final squad on May 29.

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Switzerland's opening match of the tournament is against Albania in Lens on June 11. Romania and hosts France will be their other group opponents.

Provisional Switzerland squad for Euro 2016:

Goalkeepers: Roman Burki (Borussia Dortmund), Marwin Hitz (Augbsurg), Yvon Mvogo (Young Boys), Yann Sommer (Borussia Moenchengladbach)

Defenders: Johan Djourou (Hamburg), Nico Elvedi (Borussia Monchengladbach), Michael Lang (Basel), Stephan Lichtsteiner (Juventus), Francois Moubandje (Toulouse), Ricardo Rodriguez (Wolfsburg), Fabian Schar (Hoffenheim), Philippe Senderos (Grasshopper Zurich), Steve Von Bergen (Young Boys), Silvan Widmer (Udinese)

Midfielders: Valon Behrami (Watford), Blerim Dzemaili (Genoa), Breel Embolo (Basel), Gelson Fernandes (Rennes), Fabian Frei (Mainz), Renato Steffen (Basel), Granit Xhaka (Borussia Monchengladbach), Denis Zakaria (Young Boys), Luca Zuffi (Basel)

Forwards: Eren Derdiyok (Kasimpasa), Admir Mehmedi (Bayer Leverkusen), Haris Seferovic (Eintracht Frankfurt), Xherdan Shaqiri (Stoke City), Shani Tarashaj (Grasshopper Zurich)

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