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Switzerland has
omitted midfield playmaker Hakan Yakin, who has been struggling with a
thigh injury, from the national squad for their World Cup qualifiers
against France and the Republic of Ireland. Auxerre's Stephane Grichting
and Lazio's Valon Behrami have been brought in as extra defensive cover.
France welcomed the
return of captain Zinedine Zidane for their
upcoming World Cup qualifiers although injured Thierry Henry has been
left out of the squad. Coach Raymond Domenech picked Zidane in his
22-man squad although the Real Madrid midfielder is still recovering
from a groin injury sustained during the 1-0 win over Ireland in Dublin
last month. Striker David Trezeguet is eligible after suspension but is
unavailable while nursing an injury. Right back Willy Sagnol is
suspended. Jonathan Zebina is unavailable through injury. Arsenal's striker T.Henry will be replaced by AJ Auxerre striker Peguy
Luyindula. France Raymond Domenech called up St Etienne defender Zoumana
Camara on Friday to strengthen his squad.
Victory here for
coach Raymond Domenech's injury-hit French team will secure them top
spot in Group Four after a four-way qualifying tussle with the Swiss,
Israel and Ireland. Switzerland and France top Group Four with 16 points each.
Third-placed Israel still have an outside chance of qualifying from the
tightly-contested group but have played a match more than their three
rivals. With two games left the Swiss top Group Four on 16 points, the
same tally as France. Israel, who have only one match left, have 15
points with Ireland on 13.
Switzerland :coach
Koebi Kuhn
Goalkeepers:
Pascal Zuberbühler (FC Basel), Fabio Coltorti (Grasshoppers Zurich)
Defenders: Philipp Degen (Borussia Dortmund), Ludovic Magnin
(Stuttgart), Patrick Mueller (FC Basel), Philippe Senderos (Arsenal),
Boris Smiljanic (FC Basel), Christoph Spycher (Eintracht Frankfurt),
Stephane Grichting (Auxerre), Valon Behrami (Lazio)
Midfielders: Tranquillo Barnetta (Bayer Leverkusen), Ricardo
Cabanas (Grasshoppers Zurich), Daniel Gygax (Lille), Benjamin Huggel
(Eintracht Frankfurt), Johann Vogel (AC Milan), Raphael Wicky (Hamburg)
Forwards: Alex Frei (Rennes), Mauro Lustrinelli (FC Thun), Johan
Vonlanthen (Breda), Marco Streller (Stuttgart)
France :
coach Raymond Domenech
Goalkeepers: Gregory Coupet (Olympique Lyon), Mickael Landreau
(Nantes)
Defenders: Jean-Alain Boumsong (Newcastle United), William Gallas
(Chelsea), Franck Jurietti (Girondins Bordeaux), Anthony Reveillere (Olympique
Lyon), Willy Sagnol (Bayern Munich), Sebastien Squillaci (Monaco),
Lilian Thuram (Juventus)
Midfielders: Vikash Dhorasoo (Paris St Germain), Alou Diarra
(Racing Lens), Claude Makelele (Chelsea), Florent Malouda (Olympique
Lyon), Patrick Vieira (Juventus), Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid)
Forwards: Djibril Cisse (Liverpool), Ludovic Giuly (Barcelona),
Sidney Govou (Olympique Lyon), Peguy Luyindula (Auxerre), Sylvain
Wiltord (Olympique Lyon).
Probable lineup:
Switzerland: 1-Pascal Zuberbuehler, 10-Christoph Spycher,
7-Patrick Mueller, 8-Philippe Senderos, 4-Philipp Degen, 20-Raphael
Wicky, 12-Ricardo Cabanas, 18-Johann Vogel, 11-Tranquillo Barnetta,
19-Johan Vonlanthen, 13-Alex Frei
France: 23-Gregory Coupet; 13-Anthony Reveillere, 15-Lilian
Thuram, 2-Jean-Alain Boumsong, 5-William Gallas; 6-Claude Makelele,
4-Patrick Vieira, 7-Florent Malouda, 10-Zinedine Zidane; 11-Sylvain
Wiltord, 9-Djibril Cisse
Referee: Terje Hauge (Norway)
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