Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse received another boost today to round off a season that’s been difficult to say the least. After spending the majority of the season out injured with a broken leg, he amazed just about everyone when he returned to action well ahead of schedule. It’s still unknown whether he will start in tomorrow’s Champions League Final against AC Milan, but to even be available was considered unlikely until recently.
Today he heard that French coach Raymond Domenech has named him in the squad to play in a friendly game against Hungary on Tuesday next week.
Cisse is in the squad partly thanks to the unavailability of Thierry Henry who is injured. Also missing for France is David Trezeguet who wasn’t considered because he is suspended for France’s next two qualifying matches for the 2006 World Cup.
Alou Diarra has also been selected – a Liverpool player officially, but has never played more than a friendly for the Reds and spent this season on loan at Lens.
Goalkeepers Gregory Coupet and Mickael Landreau were picked in the squad in place of former Manchester United keeper Fabien Barthez, who is suspended for spitting at a referee.
Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira gets married at the weekend and so has also been left out.
Another of tomorrow’s Champions League players was selected – Milan midfielder Vikash Dhorasoo.
Goalkeepers: Grégory COUPET (Lyon), Mickaël LANDREAU (Nantes)
Defenders: Eric ABIDAL (Lyon), Jean-Alain BOUMSONG (Newcastle), William GALLAS (Chelsea), Gaël GIVET (Monaco), Anthony REVEILLERE (Lyon), Sébastien SQUILLACI (Monaco)
Midfielders: Vikash DHORASOO (AC Milan), Alou DIARRA (Liverpool), Rio Antonio MAVUBA (Bordeaux), Benoît PEDRETTI (Marseille), Jérôme ROTHEN (Paris-SG)
Strikers: Djibril CISSE (Liverpool), Ludovic GIULY (Barcelona), Sidney GOVOU (Lyon), Florent MALOUDA (Lyon), Sylvain WILTORD (Lyon)