Santini: "I felt the need to spare the players unnecessary pressure."

FRENCH SQUAD Goalkeepers: Fabien Barthez (Marseille), Gregory Coupet (Lyon), Mickael Landreau (Nantes) Defenders: Jean-Alain Boumsong (Auxerre), Marcel Desailly (Chelsea), William Gallas (Chelsea), Bixente Lizarazu (Bayern Munich), Willy Sagnol (Bayern Munich), Mikael Silvestre (Manchester United), Lilian Thuram (Juventus) Midfielders: Olivier Dacourt (Roma), Ludovic Giuly (Monaco), Claude Makelele (Chelsea), Benoit Pedretti (Sochaux), Robert Pires (Arsenal), Jerome Rothen (Monaco), Patrick Vieira (Arsenal), Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid) Strikers: Thierry Henry (Arsenal), Steve Marlet (Marseille), Louis Saha (Manchester United), David Trezeguet (Juventus), Sylvain Wiltord (Arsenal)

PARIS, France -- Monaco's Ludovic Giuly and Jerome Rothen are named in French coach Jacques Santini's squad for next month's Euro 2004 finals in Portugal.

The midfield pair, whose form has been instrumental in helping Monaco reach next week's European Cup final, are the only representatives from the side who face Porto in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, next week.

Santini favored English-based strikers Louis Saha and Sylvain Wiltord as back-up to first choice pair Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet.

That meant no place for Lyon forwards Sidney Govou and Peguy Luyindula, who helped their club clinch a second successive French title this season.

Goalkeeper Gregory Coupet was Santini's only selection from the French champions.

Santini's squad includes a large contingent of players who helped France win the last European championships in the Netherlands and Belgium in 2000.

Veteran Chelsea defender Marcel Desailly will captain a side that will also feature world footballer of the year Zinedine Zidane and Arsenal midfield pair Patrick Vieira and Robert Pires.

Steve Marlet of Marseille, who face Valencia in Wednesday's UEFA Cup final, was also selected.

But there was no place for Manchester City striker Nicolas Anelka, Auxerre defender Philippe Mexes or Werder Bremen midifielder Johan Micoud.

With several of his players still involved in European competition, Santini's decision to announce his selection ahead of the final June 2 deadline came as a surprise.

"We wanted to start preparing for the tournament as soon as possible," Santini said at a news conference at the French Clairefontaine training camp.

"I felt the need to spare the players unnecessary pressure.

"There is no question mark left about the shape of the 23 players who are going to play the European championship.

"I knew where I was going and today's list is only the confirmation of what I saw throughout the season."