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Nice's Hatem Ben Arfa targets place in France squad for Euro 2016

Hatem Ben Arfa has his sights set on a place in France's Euro 2016 squad at the end of the most successful season of his career.

The creative midfielder has fired Nice to the brink of Champions League qualification with 17 goals and a string of impressive performances.

Les Bleus host this summer's European Championship, which kicks off on June 10, and Ben Arfa hopes to be given the opportunity to continue showcasing his talent on home soil.

He told L'Equipe: "When I come to Paris, people congratulate me on the street and tell me I'm going to the Euros, I have to go.

"The idea is to have fun and to be consistent in my performances. I was often criticised for not being. It was important to prove that to myself already. After, the team of France, yes, it is a goal."

The 29-year-old faced an uncertain future when he was released by Newcastle in January last year following an unsuccessful loan spell with Hull.

However, he has managed to resurrect his career at Allianz Riviera and only Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Lyon forward Alexandre Lacazette have scored more times than him in Ligue 1 this season.

Fourth-placed Nice sit two points behind both Lyon and Monaco and victories from their three remaining games against Nantes, St Etienne and Guingamp could see Claude Puel's side sneak a top-three finish and allow Ben Arfa to lead them in next season's Champions League.

France boss Didier Deschamps has already shown his approval of the enigmatic midfielder's resurgence and handed him his first cap since Euro 2012 in the friendly defeat to England in November.

The former Lyon and Marseille man added: "My career is a roller coaster with lots of lows, many trials and today the nice weather arrives.

"I hope it will continue. Anyway, I do not see how it could not continue. I work a lot, I have momentum and it will be very difficult to stop.

"I have not often been in fashion but I found the right framework to develop myself and I think nothing is going to stop me."

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