No Vieira as Domenech stuns with Ribery call-up

PARIS: France coach Raymond Domenech has sprung a surprise by naming Bayern Munich midfielder Franck Ribery in his 22-man squad for the World Cup qualifier with the Faroe Isles in Torshavn on Aug 12.

Ribery is still recovering from a knee unjury and, having last trained on July 12, indicated recently he was not yet match fit.

Domenech said that since Ribery could play for Bayern in their German Bundesliga opener next week, he would have no qualms about using the midfielder for "a brief spell".