Clement Chantome
Clement Chantome has replaced the injured Lassana Diarra in France’s squad for the friendly with Japan and the World Cup qualifier against Spain, the French Football Federation announced on Sunday night.
Diarra injured his back in Anzhi Makhachkala’s 2-0 win at Dynamo Moscow in the Russian Premier League on Sunday and was unable to finish the match.
Diarra has played 28 times for the national side, but made his last international appearance in August 2010.
France coach Didier Deschamps reacted by calling up uncapped Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Chantome, who completed 90 minutes in his side’s 2-2 draw at Marseille in Ligue 1 on Sunday.
Les Bleus face Asian champions Japan in a friendly at Stade de France on Friday before tackling reigning world and European champions Spain in Madrid four days later.
Revised France squad
Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur/ENG), Steve Mandanda (Marseille), Mickael Landreau (Lille)
Defenders: Christophe Jallet (Paris Saint-Germain), Mamadou Sakho (Paris Saint-Germain), Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa (Montpellier), Gael Clichy (Manchester City/ENG), Patrice Evra (Manchester United/ENG), Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal/ENG), Adil Rami (Valencia/ESP), Mathieu Debuchy (Lille)
Midfielders: Etienne Capoue (Toulouse), Clement Chantome (Paris Saint-Germain), Maxime Gonalons (Lyon), Blaise Matuidi (Paris Saint-Germain), Yohan Cabaye (Newcastle United/ENG), Moussa Sissoko (Toulouse)
Forwards: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid/ESP), Olivier Giroud (Arsenal/ENG), Bafetimbi Gomis (Lyon), Mathieu Valbuena (Marseille), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich/GER), Jeremy Menez (Paris Saint-Germain)
©2011 AFP