Confederations Cup

Zidane, other stars missing from France roster.

By Robert Wagman
SoccerTimes

(Monday, June 2, 2003) -- On paper, the Confederations Cup has all the makings of a top-rate international event. In reality, it is a tournament without a comfortable place on the crowded international calendar.

So it was no surprise when France coach Jacques Santini named a solid, but not the host nation's best side for the Cup which runs June 18-29. Injuries and club commitments will sideline some of France's best players including captain and midfield star Zinedine Zidane.

France is in Group A with New Zealand, Japan and Colombia. The United States resides in Group B with Turkey, Brazil and Cameroon

Santini said he recognizes the pressure on Zidane as his Real Madrid club chases the Spanish league title with the long season nearing an end. Zidane's Real teammate Claude Makelele will also not be called in.

"It was not sensible to call them up," Santini said in a news conference. "It would have put extra pressure on their shoulders as they have two crucial games to play in the coming weeks. Zidane told me he was interested in playing in this tournament, but we stuck to our idea of going with the players we are sure we can rely on. At best, (the duo) would have joined the squad on June 24 and it was unrealistic to hope they could have played two days later should we qualify for the semifinals."

Injuries will sideline France's two other midfield stars, Emmanuel Petit and Patrick Vieira. Santini also did not call in Juventus striker David Trezeguet who asked to be excused after a long, injury-plagued season.

Santini's said his main concern is the tournament's tight schedule which requires teams to play a match every other day in group play.

"We have three matches within five days," Santini said. "It is completely different from the World Cup finals. We will have to cope with physical and mental fatigue."

So he named two players for each position. Included in the call up are several players who will be earning their first caps. The squad will assemble at France's Clairefontaine training camp outside Paris on June 11.

Goalkeepers: Fabien Barthez (Manchester United, England), Gregory Coupet (Olympique Lyon, France), Mickael Landreau (Nantes, France)
Defenders: Jean-Alain Boumsong (AJ Auxerre, France),, Philippe Mexes (AJ Auxerre), Marcel Desailly (Chelsea, England), William Gallas Chelsea), Bixente Lizarazu (Bayern Munich, Germany), Willy Sagnol (Bayern Munich), Mikael Silvestre (Manchester United), Lilian Thuram (Juventus, Italy)
Midfielders: Ousmane Dabo (Atalanta, Italy), Olivier Dacourt (AS Roma, Italy), Ludovic Giuly (Monaco, France), Jerome Rothen (Monaco), Olivier Kapo (AJ Auxerre), Benoit Pedretti (Sochaux, France), Robert Pires (Arsenal, England), Sylvain Wiltord (Arsenal)
Forwards: Djibril Cisse (AJ Auxerre), Sydney Govou (Olympique Lyon), Thierry Henry (Arsenal), Steve Marlet (Fulham, England).

Robert Wagman is a SoccerTimes senior correspondent and can be e-mailed at bobwagman@soccertimes.com.