France coach Laurent Blanc recalled Lille winger Dimitri Payet to his squad for next week's friendly match against Chile.
Payet did not play in the June friendlies in Ukraine and Poland, and his last appearance for France was in November's friendly at England.
Blanc overlooked Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery and Arsenal midfielder Abou Diaby, who are both recovering from ankle injuries. Aston Villa winger Charles N'Zogbia, who scored against Poland, was not selected this time.
''Franck has recovered quicker than expected, but I don't think it would be wise,'' Blanc said Thursday. ''I want to have players in the best physical condition for September. I don't want to take risks with players who are in a recovery phase.''
Blanc plans to use next Wednesday's match in Montpellier to prepare for 2012 European Championship qualifiers at Albania and Romania in September.
With Adil Rami suspended for the qualifier against Albania, and Philippe Mexes still making his way back from a knee operation, Blanc has to test out a new center-half pairing against Chile.
''It is possible to think that the central defensive pairing against Montpellier will be the one against Albania,'' Blanc said, hinting that Tottenham's Younes Kaboul will start after his impressing against Ukraine and Poland.
''When you play well and you score, all the better for you,'' Blanc said, referring to Kaboul's powerful headed goal in the 4-1 win against Ukraine.
Blanc and many other coaches are unhappy about playing friendlies in August because players are unprepared and have to come in from China or South America, where they have been playing in club friendlies and exhibition tournaments.
''We spoke about this when we had our meeting last year in Madrid. Everyone was in agreement that these friendly matches in August are, first of all, very hard to prepare for,'' Blanc said. ''We don't get the players in their best form because they are right in the middle of their (club) preparations. Don't forget that it's only the French league that will have started (this weekend).''
The squad features five players from big-spending Paris Saint-Germain, which has huge backing from Qatari investors.
Forwards Jeremy Menez and Kevin Gameiro, and midfielder Blaise Matuidi have all joined PSG in recent weeks. PSG center half Mamadou Sakho - who will be likely to start against Albania - and striker Guillaume Hoarau are also in Blanc's squad.
''The more quality players we have in the French league, the more we can start to think the overall level will improve,'' Blanc said.
Marvin Martin, who scored two goals after coming on as a substitute against Ukraine, keeps his place.
Blanc added that he still has not decided who his long-term captain is going to be. Marseille midfielder Alou Diarra, Chelsea winger Florent Malouda, Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri and Mexes have all worn the armband since Blanc took over.
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France squad:
Goalkeepers: Cedric Carrasso (Bordeaux), Hugo Lloris (Lyon), Steve Mandanda (Marseille)
Defenders: Eric Abidal (Barcelona), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), Younes Kaboul (Tottenham), Adil Rami (Valencia), Anthony Reveillere (Lyon), Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Mamadou Sakho (Paris Saint-Germain)
Midfielders: Yohan Cabaye (Newcastle), Alou Diarra (Marseille), Yann M'Vila (Rennes), Samir Nasri (Arsenal), Florent Malouda (Chelsea), Blaise Matuidi (Paris Saint-Germain), Marvin Martin (Sochaux)
Forwards: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Kevin Gameiro (Paris Saint-Germain), Guillaume Hoarau (Paris Saint-Germain), Jeremy Menez (Paris Saint-Germain), Dimitri Payet (Lille), Loic Remy (Marseille)
