'Since I was not completely dead, and since I even resurrected, they have done everything they could to make sure I died a second time. We'll see who dies in the end' Eric Cantona on his exclusion from Euro 96

First seagulls and trawlers. Now the resurrection. Eric Cantona has reacted to his omission from the French team for next month's European Championship with yet another burst of bizarre imagery.

The Manchester United striker has failed to re-establish himself in the French side since being banned from the game for eight months last year after assaulting a Crystal Palace supporter. On his return he inspired United to the League and Cup double, but Aime Jacquet , the French coach, remained unimpressed and left out Cantona last week when he named his 22-man squad for the Championship.

"I think a lot of officials thought I was dead after the Crystal Palace case," Cantona said in an interview with the French weekly Paris-Match, which was published yesterday. "Since I was not completely dead, and since I even resurrected, they have done everything they could to make sure I died a second time. We'll see who dies in the end."

Cantona said he had accepted the decision "with serenity. Still, I thought my 45 caps and 20 goals for France could have been taken into consideration," he said.