Trezeguet out of France squad for friendlies

France coach Raymond Domenech has left out veteran Juventus striker David Trezeguet, seen here in action on January 27, from a 36-man squad for full and A team friendlies against Spain and the Democratic Republic of Congo next month.

France coach Raymond Domenech left out veteran Juventus striker David Trezeguet from a 36-man squad for full and A team friendlies against Spain and the Democratic Republic of Congo next month.

Domenech is keen to bring in some fresh blood for the 2006 World Cup finalists and despite Trezeguet's 15 goals for Juve this season following promotion he has missed out, having said last summer he felt 'humiliated' after being demoted to the national A side for a match against Slovakia.

Whereas Trezeguet can at least boast winners medals from the 1998 World Cup and the 200 European Championship a man who missed out on both following similar fallouts, Nicolas Anelka, is in Domenech's squad.

Anelka, off the mark with new club Chelsea last week, is in along with rising stars Hatem Ben Arfa and Karim Benzema of Lyon, as well as Trezeguet's former sidekick Thierry Henry, the Barcelona veteran.

Djibril Cisse, now of Marseille and who, like Anelka, had a short-lived time with Liverpool, is also on the list as is Anelka's clubmate Florent Malouda.

Steve Mandanda, the Marseille goalkeeper, wins a call-up as understudy to Lyon's Gregory Coupet and another new face is Arsenal defender Gael Clichy, whose clubmate Bakary Sagna is also in the party.

Gunners' midfielders Abou Diaby and Mathieu Flamini likewise have made the cut for the two friendlies on February 6 against Spain in Malaga and on February 5 against the in Marbella respectively.