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Anelka to start with Henry as France takes on Costa Rica
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-11-08 09:18
FORT-DE-FRANCE, Martinique, Nov 8 (Reuters) - France striker Nicolas Anelka
will start Wednesday's friendly against Costa Rica after his surprise call-up to
the team.
 The match, a warm-up for next year's World Cup finals, has been
arranged in Martinique in memory of the 152 people from the French-administered
Caribbean island who died in a plane crash in Venezuela in August.
Anelka, whose parents are from Martinique, has not played for France since
April 2002 when they drew 0-0 against Russia at the Stade de France.
Now with Turkish side Fenerbahce, the controversial forward snubbed a late
call-up for a friendly against Yugoslavia in November 2002 and has not been
selected since.
In the absence of first choice David Trezeguet, who is nursing a sore back,
Anelka will partner Arsenal's Thierry Henry for his 29th cap.
In the absence of injured Zinedine Zidane, the playmaking role will fall to
Paris St Germain's Vikash Dhorasoo.
Olympique Marseille's World Cup winning goalkeeper Fabien Barthez will return
after a six-month suspension. Olympique Lyon's Gregory Coupet will start against
Germany on Saturday.
Team: 16-Fabien Barthez; 5-William Gallas, 15-Lilian Thuram, 21-Gael Givet,
3-Eric Abidal; 18-Alou Diarra, 8-Vikash Dhorasoo, 11-Sylvain Wiltord, 7-Florent
Malouda; 12-Thierry Henry, 9-Nicolas Anelka.
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