France coach Laurent Blanc has recalled Barcelona defender Eric Abidal for next Wednesday’s friendly against England at Wembley.
Abidal has not been selected since Les Bleus’ World Cup debacle but has earned a reprieve after a string of solid performances for the Primera Liga champions.
The 31-year-old was one of five players summoned by the French Football Federation to explain the well-documented unrest in the France camp in South Africa but escaped without sanction.
Bordeaux captain Alou Diarra is also named in the squad despite currently serving a six-game domestic suspension for pushing a referee in a league match at Auxerre last month.
Arsenal trio Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy and Samir Nasri, along with Chelsea midfielder Florent Malouda, make up the English-based contingent in Blanc’s 22-man selection.
Squad:Lloris (Lyon), Mandanda (Marseille), Carrosso (Bordeaux); Sagna, Clichy (both Arsenal), Rami (Lille), Mexes (Roma), Sakho (Paris St Germain), Abidal (Barcelona), Reveillere (Lyon); Diarra (Bordeaux), M'Vila (Rennes), Malouda (Chelsea), Gourcuff (Lyon), Nasri (Arsenal), Cabaye (Lille); Gameiro (Lorient), Hoarau (Paris St Germain), Benzema (Real Madrid), Remy (Marseille), Payet (St Etienne), Valbuena (Marseille).
