Amalfitano handed Les Bleus call

Marseille midfielder Morgan Amalfitano was today handed his first call-up to the France squad for Wednesday’s international friendly against Germany.

Amalfitano, 26, is the only new name in the squad named by coach Laurent Blanc after being rewarded for a series of good performances since joining the south coast club from Lorient last summer.

Striker Louis Saha returns after impressing at Tottenham.

Saha replaces Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema, who is awaiting the results of scans on a groin injury sustained in the 1-1 Champions League draw against CSKA Moscow on Tuesday.

Should the 33-year-old play it will be his first appearance since the 1-0 defeat to Belarus in September 2010.

Montpellier striker Olivier Giroud, who was handed his maiden call-up for the matches with United States and Belgium at the end of last year, retains his place while Manchester United left-back Patrice Evra is also included.

The France squad for the international friendly against Germany in Bremen on February 29 is:

H Lloris (Lyon), S Mandanda (Marseille), C Carrasso (Bordeaux); E Abidal (Barcelona), M Debuchy (Lille), P Evra (Man Utd), P Mexes (Roma), A Rami (Valencia), A Reveillere (Lyon), M Sakho (Paris St Germain); M Amalfitano (Marseille), Y Cabaye (Newcastle), A Diarra (Marseille), Y M’Vila (Rennes), F Malouda (Chelsea), M Martin (Sochaux), S Nasri (Man City); K Gameiro (Paris St Germain), O Giroud (Montpellier), J Menez (Paris St Germain), F Ribery (Bayern Munich), L Saha (Tottenham), M Valbuena (Marseille).