Santini: First squad named (JedLeicester/Empics)

Santini replaced Roger Lemerre following France's first-round exit from the World Cup and is looking at new blood for the 2004 European championship qualifying campaign which starts next month.

AJ Auxerre defender Philippe Mexes, Stade Rennes defender Anthony Reveillere, Liverpool midfielder Bruno Cheyrou and Lyon striker Sidney Govou will make their international debuts if they feature in the match in Tunis on August 21.

With Lyon duo Eric Carriere and Jeremie Brechet and Fulham's Steve Marlet also included, there are seven players who were not in the World Cup squad.

'I know that we are running out of time,' said Santini, who led Olympique Lyon to the domestic title last season.

'I was named to help France qualify for the European championship and I intend to do so.

'My idea was to rely on a nucleus of experienced players like Zinedine Zidane or Emmanuel Petit who were in Korea. But some young blood had to be put in.

'The team needs new energy and fresh enthusiasm and that is why I have decided to call up some new players.'

Former international Santini has a good knowledge of French soccer, particularly of the French league, and wants to test some of the domestic talent on the international stage.

ACID TEST

'These guys are still in France but they have played with the under-21 team,' he said. 'Now, we have to see how their talent can merge with the experience.

'They need to take the acid test of the high level and we will see how they can cope with this. It seemed logical to have them in the squad.'

In his first news conference as national coach, Santini said that everything he was doing was geared towards the Euro 2004 campaign.

'We are the reigning champions and I'm here to make sure that we will have the opportunity to defend our crown. So, I will review the situation in November 2003 and if things don't go well I'll face the consequences.'

'My main concern is that the qualifying round begins very soon and we will have very little time between the match against Tunisia and the one against Cyprus.'

Santini is likely to lose defender Frank Leboeuf and strikers Youri Djorkaeff and Christophe Dugarry, who have all announced plans to retire from the international game, but has not entirely written them off.

'I have to talk with them first, just like I have to talk with Nicolas Anelka,' he said.

'He (Anelka) has to prove me that he is back at his best and that he deserves to be in the squad.'

Anelka has joined English premier league club Manchester City after spending the last few months of last season on loan at Liverpool.

Santini will have to do without Arsenal's Robert Pires who missed the World Cup after tearing his knee's ligament in March.

The midfielder is not expected to resume playing for at least two months.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Gregory Coupet (Olympique Lyon), Ulrich Rame (Girondins Bordeaux).

Defenders: Jeremy Brechet (Olympique Lyon), Vincent Candela (AS Roma), Philippe Christanval (Barcelona), Marcel Desailly (Chelsea), Philippe Mexes (AJ Auxerre), Anthony Reveillere (Stade Rennes), Willy Sagnol (Bayern Munich), Mikael Silvestre (Manchester United), Liliam Thuram (Juventus Turin).

Midfielders: Eric Carriere (Olympique Lyon), Bruno Cheyrou (Liverpool), Claude Makelele (Real Madrid), Emmanuel Petit (Chelsea), Patrick Vieira (Arsenal), Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid).