Arsenal's Pires left out of France squad for Sweden friendly

Arsenal forward Robert Pires, involved in a bitter dispute with France manager Raymond Domenech in October, was again left out of the squad for a friendly against Sweden next week.

Pires was omitted for France's last game of 2004, a goalless draw against Poland in a November friendly, after bitterly complaining over being replaced at the interval of a World Cup qualifier against Cyprus in October.

Domenech always insisted there was nothing personal in his decision not to pick Pires, who himself admitted he was not at his very best last autumn.

"I hope to be retained. I would be disappointed if I was not part of this list," Pires told French daily Le Parisien in an interview published yesterday before the squad announcement.

"The French team is very important to me, whatever I might have said or done.

"And it's also important for France to qualify for the 2006 World Cup for I sincerely believe we can finish top of our group," he added.

France are second in Group Four level with Ireland on eight points after two wins and two draws.

Domenech has recalled striker David Trezeguet, who was plagued by a shoulder injury at the start of the season and has not played for France since a 1-0 defeat by Greece in the Euro 2004 quarter-finals in June.

Milan midfielder Vikash Dhorasoo, who has not been selected since a 2-0 victory over the Faroe Islands in September, is also back in the squad.

Domenech's squad

Goalkeepers: Barthez (Marseille), Coupet (Lyon).

Defenders: Evra (Monaco), Gallas (Chelsea), Givet (Monaco), Abidal (Lyon), Squillaci (Monaco), Zebina (Juventus).

Midfielders: Meriem (Bordeaux), Mavuba (Bordeaux), Dacourt (Roma), Pedretti (Marseille), Vieira (Arsenal), Dhorasoo (Milan).

Strikers: Giuly (Barcelona), Luyindula (Marseille), Henry (Arsenal), Trezeguet (Juventus), Saha (Manchester United), Malouda (Lyon).