Thursday May 20, 2004

French name star-studded side for Euro 2004

PARIS: France will be at full strength for their European Championship title defence next month, with coach Jacques Santini's squad bristling with some of world football's biggest stars.

Santini announced his Euro 2004 squad on Tuesday, naming Thierry Henry, Zinedine Zidane and David Trezeguet among 23 players selected for the June 12-July 4 tournament in Portugal.

There was no room for Johan Micoud or Nicolas Anelka, but Sylvain Wiltord kept his place even though he's played just twice for English champions Arsenal this year.

Speaking at Clairefontaine, the French training base outside Paris where squad members gathered for a friendly match against Brazil on Thursday, Santini surprised reporters by announcing the Euro 2004 line-up earlier than anticipated.

“Having finalised things in my mind last night, I wanted to announce it today so I could tell those left out face-to-face rather than over the telephone,” he said. “It's a delicate choice and obviously the players left out are disappointed.”

“Barring injury, these players are the ones to help us to victory,” he added. He has until June 2 to replace any injured players.

France's encounter with Brazil is to mark the centenary of FIFA, football's governing body, and is part of final preparations for France's Euro campaign.

Santini left out some big-name players.

Despite helping Werder Bremen win Germany's Bundesliga, midfielder Micoud was dropped to the standby list, were he was joined by Lyon's attacking duo Sidney Govou and Peguy Luyindula, as well as Auxerre defender Philippe Mexes.

Micoud was inspirational in Bremen's Bundesliga triumph, scoring 10 league goals and assisting on many more.

However, Micoud wasted his chance in a recent friendly with Holland – failing to make any impact in a 0-0 draw.

Santini said Micoud and other non-selected players had taken the decision well.

“They are professionals. Not one of them refused to be on standby in case we need them,” Santini said. “No one told me they want to go on holiday.”

There also was no place for Anelka despite his 25 goals for Manchester City this season.

Auxerre's Djibril Cisse, who tops the French scoring charts with 26 goals, also misses out. Cisse's four-match UEFA suspension effectively dashed his hopes of making the squad.

However, Manchester United's Louis Saha got the nod over Luyindula. Santini called it “a tough choice in terms of quality.”

Saha was delighted.

“It's the culmination of a great year. I'm very satisfied,” he told reporters. “To be selected on the basis of one cap is unbelievable. I don't know if moving to Manchester was decisive. You'll have to ask the coach.”

Saha scored on his debut and helped create another goal when France beat Belgium 2-0 earlier this year. Luyindula's form dipped in the latter stages of the season following a tremendous start.

Monaco winger Jerome Rothen made the cut even though he was omitted from recent friendlies. His call-up follows some sterling performances to help Monaco reach the Champions League final.

The French squad:

Goalkeepers: Fabien Barthez (Marseille), Gregory Coupet (Lyon), Mickael Landreau (Nantes).

Defenders: Jean-Alain Boumsong (Auxerre), Marcel Desailly (Chelsea), William Gallas (Chelsea), Bixente Lizarazu (Bayern Munich), Willy Sagnol (Bayern Munich), Mickael Silvestre (Manchester United), Lilian Thuram (Juventus).

Midfielders: Olivier Dacourt (Roma), Ludovic Giuly (Monaco), Claude Makelele (Chelsea), Benoit Pedretti (Sochaux), Robert Pires (Arsenal), Jerome Rothen (Monaco), Patrick Vieira (Arsenal), Sylvain Wiltord (Arsenal), Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid).

Strikers: Thierry Henry (Arsenal), Steve Marlet (Marseille), Louis Saha (Manchester United), David Trezeguet (Juventus). – AP

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