Portsmouth skipper Sol Campbell is wondering why centre-back partner Sylvain Distin has been overlooked for international honours by France.Former England star Campbell, who returns after a knee injury kept him out of games against Aston Villa and old club Tottenham, admits he finds Distin's continued absence from the French team baffling.
The pair will be back in harness at Fratton Park trying to shackle the threat of Wigan strikers Emile Heskey and Marlon King a week before the FA Cup semi-final showdown with West Bromwich Albion at Wembley.
And Campbell, even after watching France keep a clean sheet in the 1-0 win over England on Wednesday night in Paris, said: "Sylvain has come in here and been massive. He's been excellent all year.
"And for me it's a bit surprising why he hasn't played for France. I'm sure he could. As far as I'm concerned, he's definitely up there with some of the guys I have played with over the years.
"He's good in the air, he's quick, he can move the ball around. He talks a lot and puts in good performances all the time. He wants to win and it's good to have those kind of players around.
"With the French, I don't know what goes on behind the scenes but you've got to do a lot to get in there. They don't give caps out easily.
"It's difficult for Sylvain now to get into the reckoning for the Euro 2008 finals but I'm sure he can still play for France. You just never know."
Uncapped Distin, 30, has remained at Pompey's training ground this week with Campbell while team-mates David James and Glen Johnson have both been on England duty along with Jermain Defoe.
All five, though, look set to face Wigan, which is a relief for manager Harry Redknapp who has already ruled out French midfielder Lassana Diarra again with a hamstring injury and has doubts over Hermann Hreidarsson (knee), last week's full debutant Lucien Aubey (hamstring) and the versatile Niko Kranjcar.
Croatia midfielder Kranjcar could be left out after playing every Pompey league game since returning from a foot injury in late August.
Redknapp said: "He could be a key figure in the cup semi-final but he's played a lot of Saturday-Wednesday-Saturday matches lately and might need a rest now even though we have a few knocks.
"My priority is to come through unscathed this weekend before the semi-final.
"But I'm optimistic about Diarra for next week. There is not a real tear in his hamstring and, although I won't risk him, we'll have Defoe and Sol back tomorrow.
"It is still a game we want to win. Obviously the cup looks our best route to Europe but you never know.
"We could still catch Everton for fifth place. The gap will be down to four points if they lose at Liverpool and we win and then it's all to play for with them facing tough games yet against Chelsea and Arsenal."
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