Cissé returns to France fold
Thursday, February 1, 2007
Article summary
Olympique de Marseille centre-forward Djibril Cissé has earned a recall by France eight months after suffering a serious leg injury on international duty.
Article body
Broken leg
The FIFA World Cup runners-up are to play Argentina at the Stade de France in Paris next Wednesday and coach Raymond Domenech is spoilt for choice in attacking positions. Among those named is the 25-year-old Cissé, who has not played for his country since breaking his leg in a June friendly against China.
Successful return
Having returned to first-team action with Marseille in December, the former Liverpool FC forward has enjoyed a successful comeback in Ligue 1, with two goals in six games. Elsewhere in the 22-man selection, Sylvain Wiltord is left out through injury while Nicolas Anelka continues his own comeback on the international stage. France resume their UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying campaign in Lithuania on 24 March.
France squad
Goalkeepers: Grégory Coupet (Olympique Lyonnais), Mickaël Landreau (Paris Saint-Germain FC).
Defenders: Eric Abidal (Olympique Lyonnais), François Clerc (Olympique Lyonnais), Julien Escudé (Sevilla FC), Patrice Evra (Manchester United FC), Gaël Givet (AS Monaco FC), Philippe Mexes (AS Roma), Willy Sagnol (FC Bayern München), Sébastien Squillaci (Olympique Lyonnais), Lilian Thuram (FC Barcelona).
Midfielders: Claude Makelele (Chelsea FC), Rio Antonio Mavuba (FC Girondins de Bordeaux), Jérémy Toulalan (Olympique Lyonnais), Patrick Vieira (FC Internazionale Milano).
Forwards: Nicolas Anelka (Bolton Wanderers FC), Djibril Cissé (Olympique de Marseille), Sidney Govou (Olympique Lyonnais), Thierry Henry (Arsenal FC), Florent Malouda (Olympique Lyonnais), Franck Ribéry (Olympique de Marseille), David Trezeguet (Juventus).
