Ben Arfa handed French call

Hatem Ben Arfa: On course for Euro 2012

French coach Laurent Blanc has confirmed the first part of his preliminary squad for Euro 2012, naming all the foreign-based players who will be involved.
Blanc has taken a slightly different approach to most coaches, and he will name the second part of his preliminary party of domestic-based players next week.
The main headline from the foreign players is the news that Newcastle's Hatem Ben Arfa has been included.
The ex-Marseille man has not featured at all in qualification for this summer's tournament, with his last international appearance coming in August 2010 - shortly before he broke his leg playing for the Magpies against Manchester City.
That cap, Ben Arfa's eighth, came in Blanc's first match in charge against Norway, in which the former Bordeaux boss dropped all the players involved in Les Bleus' atrocious World Cup campaign in South Africa.
Blanc told Eurosport: "We have monitored him and can count on him for the knockout stages of the Euro.
"Sadly after a dispute with Marseille, when I told him to be calm, he left for Newcastle where he suffered a terrible injury.
"I have watched him play again and watched him recuperating at Clairefontaine, he took some time to come back but his talent was always there and always will be, and he has shown more maturity this season."
Ben Arfa is joined on the list by seven other English-based players, including club-mate Yohan Cabaye and Manchester City pair Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy.
Centre-halves Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal) and Younes Kaboul (Tottenham), Manchester United full-back Patrice Evra and Chelsea winger Florent Malouda are also among those called up.
Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery and Real Madrid's Karim Benzema provide exciting attacking options while Adil Rami of Valencia and AC Milan's Philippe Mexes join Koscielny and Kaboul among the central defensive options.
But there is no place for Rami's colleague at the Mestalla, Jeremy Mathieu, despite the adventurous full-back's impressive displays in the Primera Division this season.

Inexperience

Blanc earlier admitted his inexperienced midfield is an area of concern as he puts together his squad for next month's event in Poland and Ukraine.
The likes of Cabaye, Marseille's Morgan Amalfitano and Arsenal target Yann M'Vila of Rennes - the latter two expected to feature on a second list of home-based players, to be released next Tuesday - have little real experience.
Blanc told L'Equipe: "I almost have my list of 23. My final hesitation concerns a long-term problem - the midfield is suffering from a lack of leadership and a lack of players with international experience.
"There are players who have the potential to be in the France team - but players who have proven they can really be a part of it, there are very few."
Blanc's final 23-man squad for the championship must be submitted to UEFA by 29th May.