Former Arsenal star Mathieu Flamini and former Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse have been dropped from the France squad for Euro 2008.

Coach Raymond Domenech chose two-goal hero Bafetimbi Gomis in place of Cisse amid his final selections, while Milan-bound Flamini is also a shock axe from the 23-man squad.

Domenech had to cross out seven names from a provisional list of 30 players announced earlier this month.

Defenders Philippe Mexes and Julien Escude, midfielder Alou Diarra, forward Hatem Ben Arfa and reserve goalkeeper Mickael Landreau are the other casualties.

Marseille's Cisse left the field during the second half of France's warm-up against Ecuador with the score at 0-0, replaced by debutant Gomis - and the St Etienne man scored a brace to guide Les Bleus to a 2-0 win.

Both Gomis, 22, and Cisse, 26, scored 16 Ligue 1 goals this season.

"I don't want to make comments about a player or another but I want to say my feelings," Domenech said at the team's training camp.

"This was the toughest moment of my career as France coach. "We went to each player's room and had to knock on the door with the verdict.

"When the seven left the hotel, all the other players were in the lobby to express their support. It was a difficult moment and a strong one as well."

Two helicopters then landed and were boarded by the unlucky seven.

The most prominent absentee from the 30-man list was Juventus marksman David Trezeguet, with whom Domenech has a difficult relationship.

Domenech's final choice was particularly harsh on Cisse, who missed the 2006 World Cup after sustaining a leg fracture in a warm-up game.

The France squad is a blend between seasoned warriors and exciting youngsters, among them Lyon striker Karim Benzema and Marseille playmaker Samir Nasri, both 20.

The 2006 World Cup runners-up are in Group C with world champions Italy, Netherlands and Romania at the June 7-29 Euro 2008 finals in Austria and Switzerland.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Gregory Coupet (Olympique Lyon), Sebastien Frey (Fiorentina), Steve Mandanda (Olympique Marseille).

Defenders: Eric Abidal (Barcelona), Jean-Alain Boumsong (Lyon), Francois Clerc (Olympique Lyon), Sebastien Squillaci (Olympique Lyon), William Gallas (Arsenal), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), Willy Sagnol (Bayern Munich), Lilian Thuram (Barcelona).

Midfielders: Lassana Diarra (Portsmouth), Claude Makelele (Chelsea), Jeremy Toulalan (Olympique Lyon), Patrick Vieira (Inter Milan).

Forwards: Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea), Karim Benzema (Olympique Lyon), Sidney Govou (Olympique Lyon), Samir Nasri (Olympique Marseille), Bafetimbi Gomis (St Etienne), Thierry Henry (Barcelona), Florent Malouda (Chelsea), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich).

Reuters