Stars on show

Zidane returns for France for Swiss friendly

PARIS (AP) -- France coach Jacques Santini on Wednesday picked a strong squad heavy on stars for a friendly against Switzerland next week.

Zinedine Zidane and Claude Makelele, coming off a tiring Asian tour with Real Madrid, were called after missing the Confederations Cup in June.

Also recalled was Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira, who missed the end of last season with a knee injury.

Fabien Barthez, the out-of-favor Manchester United goalie, was kept by Santini. But the coach said his place could be in jeopardy without strong early-season performances.

"If, before the Euro 2004 qualifiers, he is not in his club team, we will have to do some thinking," Santini said. "You need to play."

Manchester United replaced Barthez with American goalkeeper Tim Howard in Sunday's Community Shield match against Arsenal -- prompting talk that Barthez, winner of 59 France caps, may lose his place in United's starting lineup.

Santini said he has spoken at length with United coach Sir Alex Ferguson about Barthez, generally about his health.

"Ferguson has not given me any specific details as to Barthez's position in future matches," Santini explained. "Perhaps the weeks ahead will reveal more."

The friendly in Geneva next Wednesday should serve as a warm-up for France ahead of European Championship qualifiers at home against Cyprus on September 6 and away in Slovenia four days later.

However, Santini is not taking Switzerland lightly. Like France, it is unbeaten in Euro 2004 qualifying and heads its group.

"They are solid opponents," Santini said. "We need to take this seriously."

France is close to qualifying and is looking to defend the title it won in 2000.

"We go by stages, the season is long and we have to climb the first rung ... qualification," Santini said. "Every match from Cyprus onward will be crucial."

During France's victorious Confederations Cup campaign in June, Santini experimented with new players. Some, like midfielders Benoit Pedretti, Olivier Dacourt and Ludovic Giuly, impressed enough to still figure in Santini's future plans.

The coach said he's correctly blended experience and youth and that the team looks solid.

"I'm keeping with the players who have performed over the last year," he said. "In important matches that await, the stability of a group is very important. We also need to show confidence toward the players who've performed well."

The 20-man squad also includes veteran defender Marcel Desailly of Chelsea, who has a French record 108 caps.

But defender William Gallas, Desailly's Chelsea teammate, was not called up because he is recovering from a knee injury and has not played any club friendlies recently.

The squad:

Fabien Barthez (Manchester United), Gregory Coupet (Olympique Lyonnais), Marcel Desailly (Chelsea), Bixente Lizarazu (Bayern Munich), Philippe Mexes (AJ Auxerre), Willy Sagnol (Bayern Munich), Mikael Silvestre (Manchester United), Lilian Thuram (Juventus Turin), Olivier Dacourt (AS Roma), Ludovic Giuly (AS Monaco), Claude Makelele (Real Madrid, Benoit Pedretti (Sochaux), Robert PirÇes (Arsenal, Patrick Vieira (Arsenal), Sylvain Wiltord (Arsenal), Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid), Djibril Cisse (AJ Auxerre), Thierry Henry (Arsenal), Steve Marlet (Fulham), David Trezeguet (Juventus Turin).

 

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