Marseille midfielder Morgan Amalfitano was today handed his first call-up to the France squad for Wednesday's international friendly against Germany.

Amalfitano, 26, is the only new name in the squad named by coach Laurent Blanc after being rewarded for a series of impressive performances since joining the south coast club from Lorient last summer.

Striker Louis Saha returns after making a bright start to his career at Tottenham. The former Everton forward replaces Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema, who is awaiting the results of scans on a groin injury sustained in the 1-1 Champions League draw against CSKA Moscow on Tuesday.

Should the 33-year-old play it will be his first appearance since the 1-0 defeat to Belarus in September 2010. Montpellier striker Olivier Giroud, who was handed his maiden call-up for the matches with United States and Belgium at the end of last year, retains his place while Manchester United left-back Patrice Evra is also included.

The France squad for the international friendly against Germany in Bremen on February 29 is: H Lloris (Lyon), S Mandanda (Marseille), C Carrasso (Bordeaux); E Abidal (Barcelona), M Debuchy (Lille), P Evra (Man Utd), P Mexes (Roma), A Rami (Valencia), A Reveillere (Lyon), M Sakho (Paris St Germain); M Amalfitano (Marseille), Y Cabaye (Newcastle), A Diarra (Marseille), Y M'Vila (Rennes), F Malouda (Chelsea), M Martin (Sochaux), S Nasri (Man City); K Gameiro (Paris St Germain), O Giroud (Montpellier), J Menez (Paris St Germain), F Ribery (Bayern Munich), L Saha (Tottenham), M Valbuena (Marseille).