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French comeback for striker Anelka

FORT-DE-FRANCE, Martinique -- France striker Nicolas Anelka will start Wednesday's friendly against Costa Rica after his surprise call-up to the team.

The match, a warm-up for next year's World Cup finals, has been arranged in Martinique in memory of the 152 people from the French-administered Caribbean island who died in a plane crash in Venezuela in August.

Anelka, whose parents are from Martinique, has not played for France since April 2002 when they drew 0-0 against Russia at the Stade de France.

Now with Turkish side Fenerbahce, the controversial forward snubbed a late call-up for a friendly against Yugoslavia in November 2002 and has not been selected since.

In the absence of first choice David Trezeguet, who is nursing a sore back, Anelka will partner Arsenal's Thierry Henry for his 29th cap.

With Zinedine Zidane also sidelined, the playmaking role will fall to Paris St Germain's Vikash Dhorasoo.

Olympique Marseille's World Cup winning goalkeeper Fabien Barthez will return after a six-month suspension. Olympique Lyon's Gregory Coupet will start against Germany on Saturday.

Veteran defender Lilian Thuram feels Anelka must show he has finally matured as a player.

"I hope he can avoid ambiguous behavior," Thuram said. "That he has come back to do what he does best. France needs great players and he is a great player."

Trezeguet was an almost certain starter after scoring twice last week in Juventus' Champions League win over Bayern Munich and again this weekend in Serie A.

Henry and Anelka are among several players to have roots in the French Caribbean.

"I'm very happy and proud to come and play in Martinique," Henry said.

Coach Raymond Domenech's decision to play so far away at this stage of the season angered club coaches including Lyon's Gerard Houllier and Arsenal's Arsene Wenger.

However, both agreed to let their players go, with Lyon's Gregory Coupet, Eric Abidal, Anthony Reveillere, Sidney Govou, Sylvain Wiltord and Florent Malouda in the squad alongside Arsenal's Henry.

Despite the 17-hour round trip, the rise in temperature, and the time zone change, France's team doctor says the players will not be affected.

"There is no problem with jet lag because we are staying only two and a half days," Jean-Pierre Paclet said. "There is no need to adapt to the Caribbean time zone."

Team: 16-Fabien Barthez; 5-William Gallas, 15-Lilian Thuram, 21-Gael Givet, 3-Eric Abidal; 18-Alou Diarra, 8-Vikash Dhorasoo, 11-Sylvain Wiltord, 7-Florent Malouda; 12-Thierry Henry, 9-Nicolas Anelka.

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