Blanc calls up Saha and Gameiro

France coach Laurent Blanc yesterday named Everton striker Louis Saha in his 21-man squad and called up Lorient forward Kevin Gameiro for the first time ahead of next month’s Euro 2012 qualifiers.

The pair will get their chance to impress against Belarus on September 3 and Bosnia-Herzegovina four days later, but Marseille winger Hatem Ben Arfa and Barcelona full-back Eric Abidal were overlooked.

Saha was selected in February by former France boss Raymond Domenech for the first time since November 2006, but had to withdraw through injury.

Lyon left-back Aly Cissokho misses out due to a hamstring injury along with Patrice Evra and Franck Ribery, who received bans of five and three matches respectively from the French Football Federation’s disciplinary committee in relation to their conduct at the World Cup.

There is no place for Lyon midfielder Jeremy Toulalan, who must serve a one-match ban imposed for his part in the South Africa debacle but is available for the second match against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The fall-out from the team’s lamentable performance in South Africa led to new coach Blanc suspending all 23 members of the World Cup squad for the friendly against Norway in Oslo earlier this month.

Nine players on duty in South Africa have been recalled by Blanc – goalkeepers Hugo Lloris, Steve Mandanda and Cedric Carrasso, Arsenal trio Gael Clichy, Bacary Sagna and Abou Diaby, Chelsea midfielder Florent Malouda, Bordeaux’s Alou Diarra and Marseille’s Mathieu Valbuena.

France Squad

Goalkeepers: Lloris (Lyon), Mandanda (Marseille), Carasso (Bordeaux).

Defenders: Sagna (Arsenal), Rami (Lille), Mexes (Roma), Sakho (Paris SG), Clichy (Arsenal), Tremoulinas (Bordeaux).

Midfielders: Diaby (Arsenal), A. Diarra (Bordeaux), L. Diarra (Real Madrid), Mvila (Rennes), Malouda (Chelsea), Menez (Roma), Valbuena (Marseille).

Forwards: Gameiro (Lorient), Hoarau (Paris SG), Benzema (Real Madrid), Remy (Marseille), Saha (Everton).