International preview: England set to host France at Wembley Stadium
Two managers eager to test new players will face off when England host France in an international friendly on Wednesday 17 November.
England manager Fabio Capello, whose team were knocked out of the 2010 World Cup by Germany in the round of 16, has been urged by the English FA to forge a younger team for the 2012 European Championships.
While the need for points has kept some of the country's most promising talents out of Capello's squad during the Euro 2012 Qualifiers, the game at Wembley provides the perfect opportunity to test the
potential of several youngsters.
Midfielders Jack Wilshere of Arsenal and Sunderland's Jordan Henderson are among the prospects in Capello's squad, which also includes Cardiff City striker Jay Bothroyd, the first Championship player to
be called up for England since 2007.
Laurent Blanc took over the French team from Raymond Domenech after this summer's disappointing World Cup performance, and is also expected to foster a strong side from a new generation of players.
Midfielder Benoit Pedretti, who plays for AJ Auxerre, has been selected for the first time since 2005, while AS Nancy playmaker Julien Feret could make his international debut for France on Wednesday.
Several firsts for England
On Tuesday 16 November, Capello confirmed that Henderson, for whom Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has expressed his admiration, is set to earn his first England cap in the game.
Capello added that striker Andy Carroll, who has seven league goals for Newcastle United this season, will be another debutant.
Carroll is likely to be partnered by Peter Crouch after the Tottenham forward's impressive display in the Premier League and in Europe this season, while Arsenal youngster Kieran Gibbs is set to make his
first international start.
Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart faces a late examination by Capello's medical staff, while Wilshere has left the squad with an injury and Everton defender Phil Jagielka has a flu virus.
Those injuries have been added to a long list of England absentees, which already contained strikers Wayne Rooney, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Jermaine Defoe, Darren Bent and Bobby Zamora, midfielder Frank Lampard
and defensive trio John Terry, Ashley Cole and Glen Johnson.
French players at home in England
After being suspended by the French Football Federation for playing a part in the players' unrest at the 2010 World Cup, Barcelona right-back Eric Abidal has been included in Blanc's squad to face England.
Several players on the French team will be familiar with Wembley as a stadium from playing their club football in the Premier League. Defenders Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy and Younes Kaboul and midfield
duo Samir Nasri and Florent Malouda all play their club football in England.
Olympique de Marseille striker Loic Remy has been called up by Blanc, who also selected Real Madrid's Karim Benzema in attack but had to do without suspended striker Nicolas Anelka, whose conflict with
Domenech at the World Cup is yet to be forgotten.
England have not beaten France since 1997, the year before the French team triumphed at the World Cup, and the teams' last encounter at Wembley ended in a 2–0 loss for the home team.
Tags: