Team: FRANCE

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No Trezeguet In Preliminary France Squad
Despite naming a 30-man squad with nine forwards, France coach Raymond Domenech found no room for Juventus forward David Trezeguet...


The 30-man pool will be whittled down to 23 in time for the European Championships in Austria and Switzerland in June, and although there could be changes made before then, it is almost certain that Trezeguet's European dream is over.

Domenech told the AP that he was eager not to install too many centre-forwards in the squad.

"It's an organizational choice," he said. "There are four or five central strikers, you can't cram each position. You have to make choices."

In other interesting developments, both Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy have been excluded from the squad (see here for more details.)

However, some more unsung players have now been handed chances of their own. Bafetimbi Gomis of high-flying Saint-Étienne has received his first call-up, while 23-year-old Marseille stopper Steve Mandanda will stake his claim towards bing third-choice 'keeper after graduating from France B.

Les Bleus meet Ecuador in Grenoble on May 27th in what could be a litmus test for much of the squad, given that the final list of 23 will be submitted the following day.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Gregory Coupet (Lyon), Mickael Landreau (Paris Saint-Germain), Sebastien Frey (Fiorentina), Steve Mandanda (Marseille).

Defenders: Eric Abidal (Barcelona), Jean-Alain Boumsong (Lyon), Francois Clerc (Lyon), Julien Escude (Sevilla), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), William Gallas (Arsenal), Philippe Mexes (AS Roma), Willy Sagnol (Bayern Munich), Sebastien Squillaci (Lyon), Lilian Thuram (Barcelona).

Midfielders: Alou Diarra (Bordeaux), Lassana Diarra (Portsmouth), Mathieu Flamini (Arsenal), Claude Makelele (Chelsea), Jeremy Toulalan (Lyon), Patrick Vieira (Inter Milan), Samir Nasri (Marseille).

Forwards: Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea), Hatem Ben Arfa (Lyon), Karim Benzema (Lyon), Djibril Cisse (Lyon), Bafetimbi Gomis (Saint-Etienne), Sidney Govou (Lyon), Thierry Henry (Barcelona), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich), Florent Malouda (Chelsea).

Goal.com - Euro 2008 - No Trezeguet In Preliminary France Squad

[hanuma]

Abidal over Clichy?
Boumsong over anyone?

This team still has plenty of options though, one of the more complete sides I've seen for a while really. Fantastic, unrivalled experience in Thuram, Makalele, Vieira and Henry....4 players that would have arguments for getting into France's all time XI.

I personally would do this:

Coupet
Sagnol Mexes Gallas Evra
Ribery Vieira Maka Malouda
Benzema Henry

But I can see an argument for wanting a more mobile midfield with Flamini starting, the experience of Thuram instead of Mexes, maybe a more explosive winger than Malouda in BenArfa and starting Anelka instead of the inexperienced Benzema...and that still leaves Nasri and Govou on the sideline!!!

No excuses for France if they aren't scoring a lot of goals this summer.

[Trim]

No Clichy, no Trez? That's ridiculous.

Who the fuck is Bafetimbi Gomis?

[Dragoen]

He plays for Saint Etienne in the french League. He made 16 goals this season. He is 22 years. Werder was said to be interested in him but there hasn`t been anything proven yet. He is promising but I can`t see why he was chosen for this EC.

[D-Kin]

Originally Posted by hanuma

Abidal over Clichy?
Boumsong over anyone?

And Cisse over Trezeguet?

Unbelievable. It's not like they need the pace either, there's the likes of Anelka and Henry for that. 20 goals in Serie A says it all for me....

[kyan]

Domenech is mad, somehow it works for him but if his luck runs out it won't be long before he's gone...

It won't be Evra starting I don't think. Domenech prefers Abidal for some reason, probably because he's a better star sign.

Even so, it's a bloody strong team, the attack, even without Trezeguet, has so many different options and so much ability it's insane...

[dukeofdavinci]

im worried about benzema.lets hope by the time we play them we have alredy qualified.

[The Rule]

Clichy and Trezeguet should be in this team. Disgraceful that they're not. Boumsong is awful, get him out of their.

I also think Florent Sinama-Pongolle should have got a call up. He's been fantastic in Spain for the last two seasons while playing for a poor team. I'd have him over Gomis.

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Anelka Facing Euro Misery

Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka is facing further misery after it was revealed that his place in France’s Euro 2008 squad is far from secure...

Anelka, whose penalty was saved in midweek in the Champions League final to hand Manchester United the title, may now also miss out on Euro 2008 according to reports in the News of the World.

The paper claims that France boss Raymond Domenech is concerned about the effect the missed penalty will have on the striker and is therefore considering leaving the Chelsea player behind.

Domenech said: “It is something I have to think hard about. How is he going to deal with this? I don’t know. I’m waiting and we will talk about it.”

The French manager also revealed he was concerned about how the other players might react to Anelka and how the striker, famously nicknamed “Le Sulk” would be able to deal with it.

He said: “We’ll also have to see how the other players speak about it. If they wind him up, how will he react? It’s difficult to say.”

Domenech also revealed how it felt for a player to miss a penalty: “It’s embarrassing for the person who misses. Furthermore he is French and part of the French team.”

Although Anelka has been named in the provisional French squad of 28 players for the tournament, this squad will be trimmed on Wednesday when Domenech names his final squad of 23 players.

Domenech has already revealed how ruthless he is prepared to be whilst naming his squad as he has already omitted David Trezeguet, Robert Pires and Gael Clichy despite all three having successful domestic seasons.

With France not short of strikers such as Benzema, Henry, Nasri, Gomis and Ben Arfa it may just prove to be an anxious few days wait for Anelka.

Goal.com - France - Anelka Facing Euro Misery

[D-Kin]

Domenech is a drama queen.

[Trim]

A friendly, preparation for Euro:

France 2 - 0 Ecuador

58' [1 - 0] B. Gomis
85' [2 - 0] B. Gomis

[Trim]

Mexes, Flamini Out Of France Euro 2008 Squad

Djibril Cissé, Philippe Mexes and Mathieu Flamini are among the excluded players from France's final 23-man squad for next month's European Championships...

Djibril Cisse is one of seven players who've failed to make the France cut on Wednesday and won'y be heading to Euro 2008.

Raymond Domenech unveiled his final 23-man squad on Wednesday for the Austria and Switzerland showpiece.

Cisse was targeted by the boo boys during France's warm-up match against Ecuador on Tuesday, having missed a header. The Marseille star now misses his second successive major finals after a horrific broken leg ruled him out of the 2006 World Cup.

Domenech's other big surprise was perhaps Mathieu Flamini, who was also left out along with Mickael Landreau, Julien Escude, Philippe Mexes, Alou Diarra and Hatem Ben Arfa.

St Etienne striker Bafetimbi Gomis was given the nod after bagging a stunning brace on his debut on Tuesday. He was the fist French player to do so since Zinedine Zidane.

Cisse's Marseille teammate Steve Mandanda was another player blooded on Tuesday who has been boldly included by Domenech as goalkeeping cover.

France face a 'group of death' scenario in Group C against World Cup and Euro qualifying rivals Italy, The Netherlands, and Romania.

France squad:

Goalkeepers:
Gregory Coupet (Lyon),
Sebastien Frey (Fiorentina/ITA),
Steve Mandanda (Marseille)

Defenders:
Eric Abidal (Barcelona/ESP),
Patrice Evra (Manchester United/ENG),
William Gallas (Arsenal/ENG),
Willy Sagnol (Bayern Munich/GER),
Lilian Thuram (Barcelona/ESP),
Francois Clerc (Lyon),
Sebastien Squillaci (Lyon),
Jean-Alain Boumsong (Lyon)

Midfielders:
Lassana Diarra (Portsmouth/ENG),
Claude Makelele (Chelsea/ENG),
Jeremy Toulalan (Lyon),
Patrick Vieira (Inter Milan/ITA),
Franck Ribéry (Bayern Munich/GER),
Samir Nasri (Marseille)

Forwards:
Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea/ENG),
Thierry Henry (Barcelona/ESP),
Florent Malouda (Chelsea/ENG),
Karim Benzema (Lyon),
Sidney Govou (Lyon),
Bafetimbi Gomis (St Etienne).

Goal.com - Internationals - Domenech Drops Cissé From Final 23

Leaving the likes of Flamini, Mexes, Ben Arfa OUT - Domenech is crazy!

[sinoy1]

Mexes and Flamini out?L.Diarra and Boumsong in?! HAHAhAHAHA Oh my god.What is wrong with Domenech.Honestly.Mexes has been one of the best defenders if not the best defender in Serie A,stereotypically a defensive and extremely tactical league.How can you leave him out?

Flamini everytime ive seen him play he's been influencial.Vieira has been completely and utterly shite.Oh man....this guy is the worst.I understand he hates Italians but to hate the whole league so much so you'd drop Flamini and Mexes....At least frey got the call.Highly doubt he'll start even though he's better then Landreau.

[Trim]

Originally Posted by sinoy1

At least frey got the call.Highly doubt he'll start even though he's better then Landreau.

LOL - Landreau himself is out aswell.

[sinoy1]

My bad.I read Coupet as Landreau....well now.At least it'll be a bit easier for group C to beat France.