 |
 |
 |
|
PARIS (AP) -France coach Raymond Domenech omitted David Trezeguet from his provisional squad for the European Championship on Sunday.
Domenech selected 30 players for a pre-tournament camp in the Alpine ski resort of Tignes, where he will cut seven players for his final 23-man squad for Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland on May 28.
Trezeguet scored 20 league goals for Juventus in Serie A this season and is third among France's all-time scorers with 34 goals in 71 appearances.
"It's an organizational choice," Domenech said. "There are four or five central strikers, you can't cram each position. You have to make choices."
Saint-Etienne striker Bafetimbi Gomis was called up for the first time after scoring 16 goals this season, while Marseille forward Djibril Cisse was also selected.
"He has scored a few goals this season," Domenech said of Gomis. "I have been watching him for a while."
Domenech had hinted that he would take a look at Mathieu Valbuena, but there was no place for Marseille's uncapped midfielder. Paris Saint-Germain winger Jerome Rothen was also dropped.
"It is never easy to make a list. When you choose, you leave people to one side, " Domenech said. "I know what a player feels when he's not on the list."
Winger Florent Malouda keeps his place despite playing sporadically for Chelsea this season, while Mathieu Flamini also gains a place after impressing in Arsenal's midfield.
Domenech will look at several fringe players in a friendly against Ecuador in Grenoble on May 27.
"It's important to keep a few players in hand in case there are injuries," Domenech said. "It's the same for every position. If one player is not there, who do you play? How do you organize?
Les Bleus then have two further warm-up games, against Paraguay in Toulouse on May 31 and then Colombia at Stade de France on June 3. The squad leaves for Switzerland the next day.
"They are preparation matches," Domenech said. "Even if you're not at your best, you need to be solid and well organized."
