Blanc names France squad for Germany friendly

France coach Laurent Blanc has named his squad for the first friendly of the year 2012, an important test against Germany next Wednesday, February 29 in Bremen ahead of the 2012 European Championships in Poland and the Ukraine this summer.

Laurent Blanc has called-up 23 players of which nine earn their money abroad in the English Premier League, Spanish La Liga, German Bundesliga and Italian Serie A.

France will be without their star-striker Karim Benzema from Real Madrid, who injured himself on Tuesday evening while playing for his club against CSKA Moscow in the UEFA Champions League, which gives a chance to Louis Saha for a comeback, while Philipp Mexes and Patrice Evra have also been recalled into the squad. Marseille midfielder Morgan Amalfitano has been called-up for the first time to the France squad.


FRANCE

Goalkeepers
Cedric Carrasso (Girondins Bordeaux), Hugo Lloris (Olympique Lyonnais), Steve Mandanda (Olympique Marseille)

Defenders
Eric Abidal (FC Barcelona), Mathieu Debuchy (OSC Lille), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), Philippe Mexes (AC Milan), Adil Rami (FC Valencia), Anthony Reveillere (Olympique Lyonnais), Mamadou Sakho (FC Paris Saint-Germain)

Midfielders
Morgan Amalfitano (Olympique Marseille), Yohan Cabaye (Newcastle United), Alou Diarra (Olympique Marseille), Florent Malouda (FC Chelsea), Marvin Martin (FC Sochaux), Jeremy Menez (FC Paris Saint-Germain), Yann Mvila (Stade Rennes), Samir Nasri (Manchester City), Franck Ribery (FC Bayern Munich), Mathieu Valbuena (Olympique Marseille)

Forwards
Kevin Gameiro (FC Paris Saint-Germain), Olivier Giroud (HSC Montpellier), Louis Saha (Tottenham Hotspur)