Prolific Payet earns France chance
Thursday, September 30, 2010
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Laurent Blanc has offered AS Saint-Étienne forward Dimitri Payet the opportunity to continue his rich scoring form in France's Group D qualifiers at home against Romania and Luxembourg.
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Dimitri Payet has been rewarded for his prolific start to the Ligue 1 season with a first ever France call-up, Laurent Blanc selecting the AS Saint-Étienne striker for the UEFA EURO 2012 qualifiers at home against Romania and Luxembourg on 9 and 12 October.
"He's enjoying a good spell for a team on a high," Blanc said of the 23-year-old, who has plundered seven goals in seven outings this term. "I chose this moment to give him his chance and now it's up to him to fit in and demonstrate all the talent he's been showing in club football."
Blanc has also brought back Samir Nasri and Yoann Gourcuff, with Jérémy Toulalan, Hatem Ben Arfa and Jérémy Menez among the notable absentees from his 23-man squad; Franck Ribéry is injured. Les Bleus started Group D with a surprise home loss to Belarus before bouncing back with a 2-0 win in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
France squad
Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Olympique Lyonnais), Steve Mandanda (Olympique de Marseille), Cédric Carrasso (FC Girondins de Bordeaux).
Defenders: Bacary Sagna (Arsenal FC), Gaël Clichy (Arsenal FC), Adil Rami (LOSC Lille Métropole), Philippe Mexès (AS Roma), Mamadou Sakho (Paris Saint-Germain FC), Benoît Trémoulinas (FC Girondins de Bordeaux).
Midfielders: Mathieu Valbuena (Olympique de Marseille), Lassana Diarra (Real Madrid CF), Alou Diarra (FC Girondins de Bordeaux), Yann M'Vila (Stade Rennais FC), Abou Diaby (Arsenal FC), Samir Nasri (Arsenal FC), Florent Malouda (Chelsea FC), Blaise Matuidi (AS Saint-Étienne), Yoann Gourcuff (Olympique Lyonnais).
Forwards: Kevin Gameiro (FC Lorient), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid CF), Loïc Rémy (Olympique de Marseille), Guillaume Hoarau (Paris Saint-Germain FC), Dimitri Payet (AS Saint-Étienne).
