France opt for youth in Bosnia friendly

France coach Raymond Domenech has opted for youth as the beaten World Cup finalists take on Bosnia in a friendly in Sarajevo today.

With midfielders Zinedine Zidane and Claude Makelele retired from international duty and the future of defender Lilian Thuram uncertain, Domenech has called up only 10 members of his World Cup squad for the match.

Among the newcomers are Lyon midfielder Jeremy Toulalan and Bordeaux defender Julien Faubert, both members of the team who reached the semi-finals of the European U-21 championships in May.

Lyon defender Francois Clerc has been called-up for the second time while Bordeaux's midfielder Rio Mavuba and Roma defender Philippe Mexes have only three and six caps to their name, respectively.

Patrick Vieira will take over the captain's armband from Zidane.

France, who start their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign against Georgia and Italy next month, were held to a 1-1 draw by Bosnia when they met in a friendly in Rennes two years ago.

Bosnian coach Blaz Sliskovic, for whom the Euro 2008 qualifiers will be his third successive attempt to take the Balkans country to their first major tournament, will use the match to test out some new players and tactics.

Bosnia's all-time leading striker Elvir Bolic, 34, is the only key player omitted from the squad with Sliskovic trying out debutants Zlatan Muslimovic from Parma and Ivan Jolic from Hapoel Tel Aviv up front.

Sarajevo's Vule Trivunovic is also set to earn his first cap at the back.

Bosnia will open their Group C campaign against Malta and Hungary in September. European champions Greece, Turkey, Norway and Moldova make up the group.