Abidal handed call-up by Deschamps

France have handed an international recall to Monaco defender Eric Abidal for their friendly with Belgium on Wednesday.

France have handed an international recall to Monaco defender Eric Abidal for their friendly with Belgium on Wednesday.

Abidal, 33, has not featured for the national team since February 2012 – when France beat Germany 2-1 – due to a liver tumour, for which he twice required surgery.

The left-back joined Monaco from Barcelona in July after six years at Camp Nou, and manager Didier Deschamps revealed that Abidal’s performances in pre-season played a key role in his decision to hand him a recall.

“He has international experience in an area where players are injured or lack playing time,” Deschamps said.

“I’m not here to offer a gift, I just think that he is competitive again having played pre-season games with Monaco.”

Samir Nasri is also set to return after missing the defeats to Uruguay and Brazil in June, with Deschamps eager to hand the Manchester City man a confidence boost.

“Last season he was not really in the frame because he was injured and did not play a lot. He has to understand that he is in the frame,” he added.

No Paris Saint-Germain players have been included in the squad, with Mamadou Sakho and Jeremy Menez left out, while Blaise Matuidi is omitted as he is suspended for the World Cup qualifier with Georgia next month.

Juventus’ Paul Pogba and Newcastle United’s Yohan Cabaye are not included for the same reason.

Midfielder Etienne Capoue – thought to be close to a move to Tottenham – is in the squad, as are Lyon’s Clement Grenier and Sevilla’s Geoffrey Kondogbia, who was part of France’s Under-20 World Cup winning side.

“He’s (Kondogbia) been very good with Sevilla and he’s been good with the France team at the World Cup in Turkey, too,” Deschamps commented.

“It’s an opportunity for him to discover the A team. He can bring a lot in midfield.”

Full France squad:

Goalkeepers: Mickael Landreau (Bastia), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham), Steve Mandanda (Marseille)

Defenders: Eric Abidal (Monaco), Gael Clichy (Manchester City), Mathieu Debuchy (Newcastle United), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal), Eliaquim Mangala (Porto), Adil Rami (Valencia), Bacary Sagna (Arsenal)

Midfielders: Etienne Capoue (Toulouse), Clement Grenier (Lyon), Josuha Guilavogui (St Etienne), Geoffrey Kondogbia (Sevilla), Rio Mavuba (Lille), Moussa Sissoko (Newcastle United)

Forwards: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Olivier Giroud (Arsenal), Samir Nasri (Manchester City), Dimitri Payet (Marseille), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich), Mathieu Valbuena (Marseille)