Monaco duo earn France call

Deadline day
The attacking duo were named in Jacques Santini's provisional 23-man selection for this summer's finals in Portugal. However, Olympique Lyonnais strikers Sidney Govou and Péguy Luyindula were both omitted, meaning goalkeeper Grégory Coupet is the only Ligue 1 winner included. Chelsea FC defender Marcel Desailly will be team captain.

'Unnecessary pressure'
Santini, who has until 2 June to submit his final squad with only changes for injuries allowed after that, said he was announcing the group early "to spare the players unnecessary pressure". He added: "There is no question mark over the fitness of the 23 players who are going to the [UEFA] European Championship. I knew where I was going and today's list is only the confirmation of what I saw throughout the season."

Famous names
The squad includes nine players who were involved in the 1998 FIFA World Cup triumph (Fabien Barthez, Desailly, Bixente Lizarazu, Lilian Thuram, Patrick Vieira, Robert Pires, Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet) and ten who took the trophy at UEFA EURO 2000™ (all of the aforementioned plus Sylvain Wiltord).

Wiltord to travel
Santini has kept faith in Wiltord, who scored six times in qualifying, despite the fact the forward was this week released by Arsenal FC after playing just twice this year. Manchester United FC's Louis Saha is seen as a replacement for Djibril Cissé, banned for four matches for kicking an opponent in an Under-21 international in November.

Saha relieved
"I am relieved and happy to be in Jacques Santini's squad - it's great," said Saha. "You always hope that you will be part of it." Saha will be representing his country in a major tournament for the first time, along with Giuly, Rothen, Mickaël Landreau, Jean-Alain Boumsong, William Gallas, Olivier Dacourt, Benoît Pedretti and Steve Marlet.

Reserve list
Ten players have been placed on a reserve list in the event that one of Santini's first-choice players is forced to withdraw. These are goalkeeper Ulrich Ramé; defenders Patrice Evra, Bernard Mendy, Philippe Mexès and Sébastien Squillaci; midfielders Ousmane Dabo, Olivier Kapo and Johan Micoud; and Govou and Luyindula.

France squad

Goalkeepers
Fabien Barthez (Olympique de Marseille)
Grégory Coupet (Olympique Lyonnais)
Mickaël Landreau (FC Nantes Atlantique)

Defenders
Jean-Alain Boumsong (AJ Auxerre)
Marcel Desailly (Chelsea FC)
William Gallas (Chelsea FC)
Bixente Lizarazu (FC Bayern München)
Willy Sagnol (FC Bayern München)
Mikaël Silvestre (Manchester United FC)
Lilian Thuram (Juventus FC)

Midfielders
Olivier Dacourt (AS Roma)
Ludovic Giuly (AS Monaco FC)
Claude Makelele (Chelsea FC)
Benoît Pedretti (FC Sochaux Montbéliard)
Robert Pires (Arsenal FC)
Jérôme Rothen (AS Monaco FC)
Patrick Vieira (Arsenal FC)
Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid CF)

Forwards
Thierry Henry (Arsenal FC)
Steve Marlet (Olympique de Marseille)
Louis Saha (Manchester United FC)
David Trezeguet (Juventus FC)
Sylvain Wiltord (Arsenal FC)