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Paris - Defender Patrice Evra and winger Franck Ribery were called up to France's squad on Thursday for the first time since they were banned for their part in a training ground strike at last year's Soccer World Cup.
France coach Laurent Blanc selected them for a 2012 European Championship qualifier at Luxembourg on March 25 and a home friendly against Croatia four days later.
Evra was handed a five-match ban because he was France's captain when the team went on strike at training, while Ribery was banned for three games for his perceived role as a ringleader.
Both bans expired some time ago but, due to repetitive injuries for Ribery and the form of Barcelona left back Eric Abidal, neither player had been recalled.
Despite constant pressure from French sports minister Chantal Jouanno not to pick Evra or Ribery ever again for France, Blanc now seems to have finally moved on from France's World Cup fiasco.
"Everyone has an opinion, especially about the France team," Blanc said. "If you're not free to make these choices, you can't fulfill the role of this job."
Blanc had overlooked Evra for last month's friendly match against Brazil, despite his good form for Manchester United, because he said Abidal and Arsenal defender Gael Clichy deserved to be there ahead of him.
Clichy was also included in Blanc's squad. Abidal was due to have an operation on Thursday to remove a liver tumor.
France striker Karim Benzema will be in confident mood leading the attack for both games. The 23-year-old Benzema is in an outstanding patch of form, scoring nine goals in his last seven games for Madrid, including the second goal in Wednesday's 3-0 win over Lyon in the Champions League.
Benzema has also scored in his last three games for France and is finally fulfilling his potential after a tough start to the season, where Madrid coach Jose Mourinho often left him on the bench and Blanc criticised his lack of work rate.
Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri returns after missing the Brazil game through injury. He is one of five Arsenal players in the squad.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Cedric Carrasso (Bordeaux), Hugo Lloris (Lyon), Steve Mandanda (Marseille)
Defenders: Patrice Evra (Manchester United), Gael Clichy (Arsenal), Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal), Philippe Mexes (AS Roma), Adil Rami (Lille), Anthony Reveillere (Lyon), Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Mamadou Sakho (Paris Saint-Germain)
Midfielders: Abou Diaby (Arsenal), Alou Diarra (Bordeaux), Yoann Gourcuff (Lyon), Yann M'Vila (Rennes), Samir Nasri (Arsenal), Florent Malouda (Chelsea)
Forwards: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Kevin Gameiro (Lorient), Guillaume Hoarau (Paris Saint-Germain), Jeremy Menez (AS Roma), Loic Remy (Marseille), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich)
