France coach Raymond Domenech has included uncapped duo Pascal Chimbonda and Franck Ribery in his 23-man squad for the FIFA World Cup. The France Football Federation (FFF) posted Domenech's squad on their official website on Sunday. The inclusion of Wigan defender Chimbonda comes as a surprise despite his brilliant displays this season. Marseille midfielder Ribery was tipped to make France's squad following his superb display throughout the French League season. The 23-year-old previously said he would be delighted to play along French playmaker Zinedine Zidane, who will retire after the WC. Arsenal's Robert Pires and Barcelona's Ludovic Giuly, who both will play in Wednesday's UEFA Champions League final, were excluded from Domenech's squad.
France play in Group G in Germany alongside Switzerland, South Korea and Togo. Domenech also named Fabien Barthez as his starting goalkeeper in Germany ahead of Lyon's Gregory Coupet. France squad: Goalkeepers: Fabien Barthez (Olympique Marseille), Gregory Coupet (Olympique Lyon), Mickael Landreau (Nantes) Defenders: Eric Abidal (Olympique Lyon), Jean-Alain Boumsong (Newcastle United), Pascal Chimbonda (Wigan Athletic), William Gallas (Chelsea), Gael Givet (Monaco) Willy Sagnol (Bayern Munich), Mikael Silvestre (Manchester United), Lilian Thuram (Juventus) Midfielders: Vikash Dhorasoo (Paris St Germain), Alou Diarra (Racing Lens), Claude Makelele (Chelsea), Florent Malouda (Olympique Lyon), Patrick Vieira (Juventus), Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid). Forwards: Djibril Cisse (Liverpool), Thierry Henry (Arsenal), Franck Ribery (Olympique Marseille), Louis Saha (Manchester United), David Trezeguet (Juventus), Sylvain Wiltord (Olympique Lyon).