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Landreau delighted with French call

NANTES goalkeeper Mickael Landreau was delighted to be called-up into the French national side as a replacement for the injured Gregory Coupet.

French boss Jacques Santini has now had to replace both his original keepers as Ulrich Rame also had to be drafted in to replace the injured Fabien Barthez.

Lyon shot-stopper Coupet was set to start against Czech Republic on Wednesday in the absence of Barthez but was forced out of the squad after sustaining a shoulder injury.

Bordeaux keeper Rame is due to start the game in Stade de France, but Landreau was still happy to be included in the party.

"It is nice to be there," said Landreau. "I don't know if I will be a first-team member, but it is a good thing to participate with Les Bleus.

"I will take advantage to improve."

The 23-year-old will be hoping to get on the pitch at some stage and have the chance to impress Santini, and he will still be on a high after helping Nantes to a superb 1-0 win at Auxerre on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Santini has had another blow as Auxerre's Philippe Mexes has been forced to pull out with a thigh injury picked up in Sunday's defeat against Nantes.

Auxerre team-mate Jean-Alain Boumsong will replace him for Les Bleus, but Mikael Silvestre could also be a doubt after picking up an Achilles injury during Sunday's Manchester derby.

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