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Fans in suspense about French squad for Euro 2004
Paris, May 14: French coach Jacques Santini left fans guessing about his Euro 2004 squad when he named 31 players for Fifa`s centenary match against Brazil at the Stade De France on May 20.
Paris, May 14: French coach Jacques Santini left fans guessing about his Euro 2004 squad when he named 31 players for Fifa's centenary match against Brazil at the Stade De France on May 20.
Arsenal's Sylvain Wiltord, sidelined by injury since mid-December, returns and Santini named two uncapped defenders, Monaco's Patrice Evra and Paris St Germain's Bernard Mendy.
''I trust Sylvain. I want him to play against Brazil but only the medical tests can give the green light,'' Santini told reporters.
The 31 players will meet at France's headquarters in Clairefontaine southwest of Paris on Monday evening and will have to take medical tests on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Wiltord, who scored a dramatic equaliser for France in the Euro 2000 final against Italy which the French went on to win with a David Trezeguet golden goal, has played only a handful of games for Arsenal this season because of an ankle injury.
Although Wiltord returned to action last month, he recently picked up another ankle injury and needs to prove his match fitness to Santini.
The former Girondins Bordeaux player has not played for France since he came on as a second half substitute in the European champions' 3-0 thrashing of Germany in Gelsenkirchen on November 15.
The two main absentees are Olympique Marseille's Fabien Barthez and Steve Marlet who will play in the Uefa Cup final against Valencia the day before the centenary match.
''If you had Marseille's players in the squad I gave you, you would be able to pick your 23-man list for Euro 2004,'' Santini added, a remark that would seem to close the door on Manchester City striker Nicolas Anelka.
Nor will Santini field the four Monaco players selected, Evra, Sebastien Squillaci, Jerome Rothen and Ludovic Giuly, since the principality team play their last Ligue 1 game against Bordeaux the day after the Brazil game.
''They will leave on Tuesday after medical check-ups,'' said the coach.
Santini said the outcome of this weekend's matches in the European Leagues may dictate his choice for the starting eleven against Brazil.
''We will make a professional use of the players,'' he said.
''We still have two doubts about the Bayern Munich players. Willy (Sagnol) and Bixente (Lizarazu) might secure, or not, Bayern's second place in the Bundesliga.''
Santini has not yet said when he will announce his squad for the June 12-July 4 Euro 2004 tournament in Portugal.
Bureau Report
Arsenal's Sylvain Wiltord, sidelined by injury since mid-December, returns and Santini named two uncapped defenders, Monaco's Patrice Evra and Paris St Germain's Bernard Mendy.
''I trust Sylvain. I want him to play against Brazil but only the medical tests can give the green light,'' Santini told reporters.
The 31 players will meet at France's headquarters in Clairefontaine southwest of Paris on Monday evening and will have to take medical tests on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Wiltord, who scored a dramatic equaliser for France in the Euro 2000 final against Italy which the French went on to win with a David Trezeguet golden goal, has played only a handful of games for Arsenal this season because of an ankle injury.
Although Wiltord returned to action last month, he recently picked up another ankle injury and needs to prove his match fitness to Santini.
The former Girondins Bordeaux player has not played for France since he came on as a second half substitute in the European champions' 3-0 thrashing of Germany in Gelsenkirchen on November 15.
The two main absentees are Olympique Marseille's Fabien Barthez and Steve Marlet who will play in the Uefa Cup final against Valencia the day before the centenary match.
''If you had Marseille's players in the squad I gave you, you would be able to pick your 23-man list for Euro 2004,'' Santini added, a remark that would seem to close the door on Manchester City striker Nicolas Anelka.
Nor will Santini field the four Monaco players selected, Evra, Sebastien Squillaci, Jerome Rothen and Ludovic Giuly, since the principality team play their last Ligue 1 game against Bordeaux the day after the Brazil game.
''They will leave on Tuesday after medical check-ups,'' said the coach.
Santini said the outcome of this weekend's matches in the European Leagues may dictate his choice for the starting eleven against Brazil.
''We will make a professional use of the players,'' he said.
''We still have two doubts about the Bayern Munich players. Willy (Sagnol) and Bixente (Lizarazu) might secure, or not, Bayern's second place in the Bundesliga.''
Santini has not yet said when he will announce his squad for the June 12-July 4 Euro 2004 tournament in Portugal.
Bureau Report