Blanc recalls Benzema and Ben Arfa for France

Forwards Karim Benzema and Hatem Ben Arfa are among the biggest names in Laurent Blanc’s first France squad, for next week’s friendly in Norway.

The pair were surprise exclusions from former coach Raymond Domenech’s World Cup group, and were therefore exempt when the French football federation responded to a summer campaign of failure and infighting by suspending all 23 players involved.

Benzema’s Real Madrid team-mate, midfielder Lassana Diarra, was ruled out of the tournament due to illness and is also therefore available to return, while there is a recall too for Arsenal’s Samir Nasri in a 22-man group.

France squad to face Norway in Oslo on August 11:

Nicolas Douchez (Rennes), Stephane Ruffier (Monaco); Aly Cissokho (Monaco), Mathieu Debuchy (Lille), Rod Fanni (Rennes), Philippe Mexes (Roma), Adil Rami (Lille), Mamadou Sakho (Paris St Germain), Benoit Tremoulinas (Bordeaux); Yohane Cabaye (Lille), Lassana Diarra (Real Madrid), Blaise Matuidi, Yann Mvila (both Saint-Etienne), Charles N’Zogbia (Wigan), Samir Nasri (Arsenal), Moussa Sissoko (Toulouse); Hatem Ben Arfa (Marseille), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Jimmy Briand (Lyon), Guillaume Hoarau (Paris St Germain), Jeremy Menez (Roma), Loic Remy (Nice).