Santini keeps faith in duo

No major surprises
There were no major surprises in the 21-man squad that was announced on Thursday, as coach Jacques Santini kept faith with Manchester United FC goalkeeper Barthez and Real Madrid CF midfield player Makelele.

Situation 'will sort itself out'
Barthez has lost his place in the United side to United States international Tim Howard and has not even been picked for the substitutes' bench this season, while Makelele has failed to feature in Madrid's latest pre-season games. But Santini insisted: "The situation that these two players find themselves in at their clubs will sort itself out."

No Gallas
Philippe Mexès returns to the squad after missing the friendly against Switzerland through injury, while his defensive partner at AJ Auxerre Jean-Alain Boumsong keeps his place. There is no room, however, for centre-back William Gallas who is currently being kept out of the Chelsea FC team by his international colleague Marcel Desailly.

Comfortably top
France, who take on Cyprus at the Stade de France on September 6 and Slovenia in Ljubljana on September 10, comfortably top qualifying Group 1 with five wins out of five.

France squad
Barthez, Coupet, Boumsong, Desailly, Lizarazu, Mexès, Sagnol, Silvestre, Thuram, Dacourt, Giuly, Makelele, Pedretti, Pires, Vieira, Wiltord, Zidane, Cissé, Henry, Marlet, Trezeguet.