France teammates welcome maturer Anelka

PARIS (AFP) — Controversial striker Nicolas Anelka has been welcomed back to the France squad by his teammates. Coach Raymond Domenech called on the 27-year-old for Euro 2008 qualifiers against Scotland on Saturday and the Faroe Islands four days later. Anelka last played in France's loss to Slovakia in Stade de France on March 1 last.

The former Paris Saint Germain, Arsenal, Real Madrid and Liverpool player also lined out in a number of friendlies in the build-up to the World Cup. But neither that nor the injury of Djibril Cisse before the competition was enough to convince Domenech to hand him an elusive call-up. Domenech has however decided to have the Bolton player on standby should Sydney Govou (left ankle) and Louis Saha (groin and hamstring) fail their fitness battle. Lyon defender Sebastien Squillaci was also called up as cover as defenders William Gallas and Willy Sagnol undergo fitness ...