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It is a statistic that needs double, triple checking. No club will have more representation at Euro 2016 than Liverpool.

Along with Juventus, the Reds can account for a dozen players who will be a part of this month’s tournament in France.

Five Englishman, three Belgians, two from Wales, as well as a Slovakian and a German. This is no joke.

A lot of rhetoric has flown in the aftermath of the Europa League humbling in Basel. Jurgen Klopp could only act as the adhesive strip for so long, it was said. He was handed a squad of players not fit for his purpose, and yet somehow guided them to two finals, albeit both ending in defeat.

But if that is the case, then how is it a squad that contains 12 internationals good enough to represent their country at the European Championships?

Granted, the expansion from 16 teams to 24 means more nations will qualify, and therefore more players – 184, to be precise – will feature.

It is also true that selection for Euro 2016 is not necessarily a gauge of ability. Isco and Diego Costa have not been selected for Spain, nor Andrea Pirlo; Arjen Robben and Miralem Pjanic have not qualified with Holland and Bosnia; Marco Reus and Karim Benzema are unavailable for selection, for contrasting reasons.

All of those would saunter into Liverpool’s squad.

With respect to a talented young goalkeeper, what does Danny Ward’s inclusion as second-choice for Wales really say about the strength of Liverpool’s squad?

Yet of the 12 who will travel to France, nine of them do so for Germany, England and Belgium.

According to bookmakers, and the FIFA world rankings, those three nations are within the top five in the competition.

With the Three Lions, Nathaniel Clyne is battling for a starting spot at right back, while the midfield trio of Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Adam Lallana all offer Roy Hodgson something different. The debate over Daniel Sturridge’s inclusion would, surely, have been a non-starter if not for his injury problems over the past two years.

At Belgium, Divock Origi could line up on the right of an attacking three, but gives Marc Wilmots an option up front, too. If not for the injury inflicted by Ramiro Funes Mori in the Merseyside derby, he would be entering the tournament as his nation’s form man. Christian Benteke is unlikely to start, but is someone to call upon from the bench, and Simon Mignolet is considered a reliable deputy to Thibaut Courtois.

Emre Can is part of the world champions’ squad, and could feature – albeit at full back – under Jogi Low. Joe Allen is a key component of Wales’ side, Martin Skrtel the captain of Slovakia.

Consider, also, Dejan Lovren’s self-inflicted exile from the Croatia squad, as well as Mamadou Sakho’s absence from Euro 2016 in his home country, and the Reds could conceivably have had 14 players at the tournament.

There is no correlation between success and representation, sadly. Champions Leicester can only account for four players; West Ham, a place higher than the Reds this season, likewise.

But at the top of the table in terms of players heading across the Channel, Liverpool sit top, with Tottenham (11), Arsenal (10) and Manchester United (10) not far behind. Those three account for three of the top five this season.

These Liverpool players – so wilfully thrown under the bus by some fans in the aftermath of Basel – are heading to the European Championships. Much like they were in this campaign for the Reds, they could be crucial to their nations’ fortunes this summer.

Good luck to the dozen. If some of the reaction to the Sevilla defeat is to be heeded, they are the dirty, disappointing dozen.

Perhaps the fact they have a chance to show that isn’t true in international colours automatically means it isn’t true, anyway.

There is no question Liverpool’s squad needs to improve. Some of the 12 heading to France are amongst those who need to be upgraded, undoubtedly.

But while eyes fall upon players of other clubs, and dreams form of what they would look like in red, a glance should be afforded to those who have already worn it in 2015-16.

The hard-working midfield trio in England white, and the full back and striker who inject a bit of quality into the side.

The exciting young German, careering up the pitch, the Welshman supplying Gareth Bale with ammunition, the Belgian with strength and electric pace.

They might not be so bad either, you know.