Thursday 29 December 2016 21:42, UK
Everton striker Louis Saha has been called up to the France squad for the first time since November 2006.
Everton striker Louis Saha has been called up to the France squad for the first time since November 2006.
Saha has been rewarded for a series of impressive performances at club level this season with a place in Raymond Domenech's 24-man party for next week's friendly against Spain.
He joins fellow Premier League stars Patrice Evra, Bacary Sagna, Florent Malouda and Nicolas Anelka in the squad.
Marseille midfielder Benoit Cheyrou could make his international debut after being selected for the first time, while Bordeaux's Mickael Ciani is another new face.
There is still no room for former captain Patrick Vieira, who moved to Manchester City in January in a bid to force his way back into the reckoning for this summer's World Cup.
Domenech will be looking for a good performance from his men in Paris on Wednesday as he continues to gear up for the tournament.
The clash with Spain will be France's first match since November's controversial World Cup play-off against Republic of Ireland.
Full squad: Lloris (Lyon), Mandanda (Marseille), Carrasso (Bordeaux); Boumsong (Lyon), Escude (Sevilla), Evra (Manchester United), Sagna (Arsenal), Rami (Lille), Ciani (Bordeaux), Cissokho (Lyon), Fanni (Rennes); Diarra (Real Madrid), Toulalan (Lyon), Gourcuff (Bordeaux), Ribery (Bayern Munich), Sissoko (Toulouse), Malouda (Chelsea), Cheyrou (Marseille), Ben Arfa (Marseille); Henry (Barcelona), Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea), Govou (Lyon), Remy (Nice), Saha (Everton).
