Makelele to start against Georgia

Adjust font size:

TBILISI, Georgia -- Chelsea midfielder Claude Makelele has been included in the France line-up for their Euro 2008 qualifier against Georgia in Tbilisi on Saturday.

Makelele, recalled against his will last week, will partner Patrick Vieira in a defensive midfield role according to the team issued by coach Raymond Domenech on Friday.

Makelele's inclusion in the squad for the next two games triggered a controversy between his club manager Jose Mourinho and Domenech.

The player had told Domenech he wanted to retire from international football after the World Cup in Germany and was surprised to find himself in the latest squad.

Mourinho said the France coach was treating Makelele like a slave while Domenech said he was entitled to pick the midfielder according to FIFA rules.

Makelele has since issued a statement saying he would give 100 percent for France and "do everything I can so that we win our next two matches".

Team: 23-Gregory Coupet; 3-Eric Abidal, 5-William Gallas, 15-Lilian Thuram, 19-Willy Sagnol; 6-Claude Makelele, 4-Patrick Vieira (cap.) 7-Florent Malouda, 22-Franck Ribery; 12-Thierry Henry, 14-Louis Saha.

Get up-to-the minute news from CNN CNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more.

---

• Sniper John Allen Muhammad executed
• Little dress makes big trouble in Brazil
• Chinese credit card debt mounts
• Obama to seek stronger relations on Asia trip
• German World Cup hopeful dead

• Irish PM to quit over payments scandal
• NATO chief: Afghan troop increase likely
• Militants hunted as calm retuns to Basra
• Pressure on Bush to skip Olympics
• BA sending misplaced T5 baggage to Milan

• Recruiting suicide bombers (2:50)
• London was lucky (2:36)
• Cars in London rigged as bombs (3:48)
• Second explosives-packed car foun (2:32)
• Soviet culture returns (3:47)