France name first 24

René Girard has named his provisional 24-man France squad for this summer's UEFA European Under-21 Championship in Portugal.

Big names
Olympique de Marseille forward Franck Ribéry may yet play for the senior side at the FIFA World Cup finals in Germany despite never having been called up by Raymond Domenech. Also being linked with Les Bleus are FC Nantes Atlantique anchorman Jérémy Toulalan, Olympique Lyonnais right-back François Clerc and FC Girondins de Bordeaux midfielder Rio Antonio Mavuba.

U19 veterans
Yoann Gourcuff and Yoan Gouffran, who won the 2005 UEFA European U19 Championship, are also included in the squad which features no fewer than six players registered with English clubs. Two men will be dropped from the group before the final deadline on 15 May, with the action getting under way on 23 May.

France squad
Goalkeepers: Jérémy Gavanon (Clermont Foot Auvergne), Steve Mandanda (Le Havre AC), Simon Pouplin (Stade Rennais FC).

Defenders: Lucien Aubey (Toulouse FC), Jérémy Berthod (Olympique Lyonnais), Grégory Bourillon (Stade Rennais FC), François Clerc (Olympique Lyonnais), Gaël Clichy (Arsenal FC), Jacques Faty (Stade Rennais FC), Bakari Sagna (AJ Auxerre), Ronald Zubar (SM Caen).

Midfielders: Lassana Diarra (Chelsea FC), Julien Faubert (FC Girondins de Bordeaux), Mathieu Flamini (Arsenal FC), Yoann Gourcuff (Stade Rennais FC), Rio Antonio Mavuba (FC Girondins de Bordeaux), Charles N'Zogbia (Newcastle United FC), Franck Ribéry (Olympique de Marseille), Jérémy Toulalan (FC Nantes Atlantique).

Forwards: Bryan Bergougnoux (Toulouse FC), Jimmy Briand (Stade Rennais FC), Yoan Gouffran (SM Caen), Anthony Le Tallec (Liverpool FC), Florent Sinama Pongolle (Liverpool FC).