Eric Abidal (France):

With a minimum amount of fuss, Eric Abidal has gradually established himself as one of the cornerstones of the French side and at 26, came into this World Cup probably at his peak. Highly versatile, this athletic left winger (1.80m and 75 kgs) can also play as a wing back — as he has been doing at Lyon for the last two seasons — or as a central defender — where he used to perform for Lille. Highly rated by the coach, Abidal has earned all five of his caps — before the announcement of the squad of 23 — under Domenech’s reign.

Claude Makelele (France):

His return to the fold may not have been as headline-grabbing as that of Zinedine Zidane or even Lilian Thuram, but Claude Makelele’s importance cannot be overestimated. A defensive midfielder with a voracious appetite for hard work, he has become accustomed to toiling away dutifully in the shade. Amid the ranks of les Bleus, ‘Maké’ at last established himself as a regular after just three caps in five years. Since the retirement of Didier Deschamps, this pocket powerhouse (1.74m) has proven the ideal foil for Emmanuel Petit or Patrick Vieira in the middle of the park.