First France call-up for Alessandrini

HEAR US OUT!

FOX Soccer's Blog offers unique coverage of the world game. Join us.

France boss Didier Deschamps has handed a first call-up to Rennes forward Romain Alessandrini as he named his squad for next week's friendly against Germany.

The 23-year-old former Clermont Foot player, who joined Rennes from the Ligue 2 side last summer, features in the 23-player list of players selected for the Stade de France clash.

Uncapped Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane is also included, and having been involved with the squad previously without making his senior debut the 19-year-old will hope the opportunity arises next Wednesday.

Varane scored for Madrid and was man of the match in their 1-1 draw against Barcelona last night in the Copa del Rey.

The squad contains 10 players from the French league and nine based in the English Premier League, including Newcastle's recent signings Mathieu Debuchy and Moussa Sissoko, plus three from Spain and one, Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery, from Germany's Bundesliga.

France squad for friendly international against Germany on February 6:

Keepers: Mickael Landreau (Lille), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham), Steve Mandanda (Marseille)

Defenders: Gael Clichy (Manchester City), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), Mathieu Debuchy (Newcastle), Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal), Adil Rami (Valencia), Mamadou Sakho (Paris St Germain), Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Raphael Varane (Real Madrid)

Midfielders: Yohan Cabaye (Newcastle), Etienne Capoue (Toulouse), Maxime Gonalons (Lyon), Blaise Matuidi (Paris St Germain), Moussa Sissoko (Newcastle), Mathieu Valbuena (Marseille); Romain Alessandrini (Rennes),

Forwards: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Olivier Giroud (Arsenal), Bafetimbi Gomis (Lyon), Jeremy Menez (Paris St Germain), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich)