World Cup qual - Vieira wins France recall for two friendlies

Eurosport - Wed, 27 May 10:13:00 2009

Patrick Vieira has won a recall to the France squad for June's friendlies against Nigeria and Turkey.

FOOTBALL, Vieira, France - 0

The 32-year-old Internazionale midfielder has missed all but one of France's last 16 games through a string of injuries.

He was not called up for two World Cup qualifiers against Lithuania earlier this year despite being fit but he has regained his place for the matches against Nigeria in St Etienne on June 2 and Turkey in Lyon three days later.

Coach Raymond Domenech also picked Chelsea's Florent Malouda for the first time since a friendly against Tunisia last October.

The France coach said his absence had nothing to do with Malouda's criticism of him.

"The only thing he had to do (to be called up again) was to be good on the field and that's what he has done in the past weeks," Domenech said.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Cedric Carrasso (Toulouse), Hugo Lloris (Lyon), Steve Mandanda (Marseille); Defenders: Eric Abidal (Barcelona), Jean-Alain Boumsong (Lyon), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), Rod Fanni (Stade Rennes), Philippe Mexes (Roma), Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Sebastien Squillaci (Sevilla), Julien Escude (Sevilla); Midfielders: Patrick Vieira (Inter Milan), Abou Diaby (Arsenal), Alou Diarra (Bordeaux), Lassana Diarra (Real Madrid), Yoann Gourcuff (Bordeaux), Jeremy Toulalan (Lyon), Florent Malouda (Chelsea); Forwards: Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea), Karim Benzema (Lyon), Andre-Pierre Gignac (Toulouse), Thierry Henry (Barcelona), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich), Sidney Govou (Lyon), Loic Remy (Nice).

Reuters

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  1. This guy iz too old he should retire,all these injuries­ are giving him a bad reputation, besides i havnt heard­ his name for time now man.....

    From Micheal, on Thu 28 May 11:04AM
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