Santini names 31 for Brazil test
Thursday, May 13, 2004
Article summary
Jacques Santini has named a 31-man squad for France's friendly against Brazil on 20 May.
Article body
By Christian Châtelet
France coach Jacques Santini has named newcomers Patrice Evra and Bernard Mendy in a 31-man squad for the match against Brazil at the Stade de France on 20 May.
Defensive additions
Evra, who has impressed in AS Monaco FC's run to the UEFA Champions League final, is included alongside another 22-year-old full back, Mendy of Paris Saint-Germain FC, for the game against the world champions which will help mark FIFA's centenary. However, Evra will not stay in the party long enough to make his debut, with Santini preparing to cut the squad to around 20 early next week.
Fixture pile-up
Indeed it remains to be seen exactly how many players from France's top clubs will feature in the friendly international. Monaco will play their last league match of the season on 21 May before the Champions League final five days later, while Ligue 1 leaders Olymique Lyonnais end their domestic campaign on 23 May.
Medical tests
Santini is expected to allow a number of players to return to their clubs once they have undergone a medical examination next Monday. "I wanted a 31-player list in order to carry out medical tests on the players likely to take part in EURO 2004™," he explained. "Several players, including the Monaco ones, will leave the squad after those tests."
Play no part
This means that Evra, together with team-mates Jérôme Rothen, Ludovic Giuly and Sébastien Squillaci, will play no part in the Brazil match. Likewise Manchester United FC's Mikaël Silvestre who has to prepare for the FA Cup final on 22 May, and the Lyon pair of Grégory Coupet and Peguy Luyindula.
Marseille duo omitted
Santini has already decided to omit Olympique de Marseille's Fabien Barthez and Steve Marlet from the squad as the game takes place 24 hours after Marseille's UEFA Cup final against Valencia CF. The coach is expected to name his 23-man party for UEFA EURO 2004™ in the days following the Brazil fixture.
France squad
Coupet, Landreau, Ramé, Boumsong, Desailly, Evra, Gallas, Lizarazu, Mendy, Mexes, Sagnol, Silvestre, Squillaci, Thuram, Dabo, Dacourt, Giuly, Kapo, Makelele, Micoud, Pedretti, Pires, Rothen, Vieira, Wiltord, Zidane, Govou, Henry, Luyindula, Saha, Trezeguet.
