Laurent Blanc names French squad for friendly against England
French coach Laurent Blanc has named his squad ahead of their friendly international match with England at Wembley on Wednesday 17 November.
The French World Cup winner has called up Barcelona’s Eric Abidal to the 22-man-squad. Abidal was one of five players that were summoned by the French Football Federation to explain the unrest and disputes within the French camp, during their disastrous
World Cup campaign in South Africa.
Abidal’s call-up comes after some fine performances with Barcelona, but the player may receive a hostile welcome from his own fans as he takes to the pitch after their shambolic World Cup under former French coach Raymond Domenech.
Blanc suspended all 23 players from his first match in charge after the French team’s World Cup display, but he has now called up a number of players who were involved in orchestrating a strike when Nicolas Anelka was sent home by Domench after he verbally
abused the coach.
However, the former French captain Patrice Evra and Anelka, who is in fantastic form for Chelsea, are still banned from the squad.
Frank Ribery is another high profile player who is missing from the World Cup squad, but the player would not have been able to play if called up as he has torn ankle ligaments after sustaining an injury with his club side Bayern Munich.
Bordeaux’s Alou Diarra is also selected despite serving a six-week domestic ban for pushing a referee in the French league.
Four Premier League players are included in the French squad. Arsenal’s Gael Clichy is likely to start at left back in the absence of Evra. He is joined by Arsenal team-mates Bacary Sagna and Sami Nasri. Chelsea’s Florent Malouda also makes the squad.
England will be confident they can beat the French side, which is in the process of rebuilding. However, the French side will be a danger as they are keen to show the world that their calamitous World Cup is well and thoroughly behind them.
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