Paris St Germain goalkeeper Lionel Letizi, Monaco defenders Martin Djetou and Philippe Christanval, Real Madrid midfielder Clauke Makelele and PSG striker Laurent Robert are in a 20-man squad.

Defender Laurent Blanc and captain Didier Deschamps retired after a friendly against England earlier this month. Chelsea's Marcel Desailly will replace Deschamps as captain.

'This is not the beginning of a new era,' said coach Roger Lemerre said. 'France existed before the European championship and it will have a life after.

'There is continuity but it's obvious with the retirements (of Deschamps and Blanc) there is room for new players. It's up to them to grab the opportunity. I want the guys to display their will to play for France.'

Bordeaux striker Christophe Dugarry, out with a rib injury, Arsenal's Robert Pires, Parma's Johan Micoud, Middlesbrough's Christian Karembeu and Stade Rennes goalkeeper Bernard Lama are also missing.

'Dugarry and Pires are injured, so there are not on my list,' Lemerre said. 'About Micoud, he just started with Parma and I want to know a little bit more.

'Karembeu is different matter. I was eager to see something different in the midfield after Euro 2000 and this is the reason why I called (him) up.'

France face Cameroon at the Stade de France on October 4 and Ellis Park Stadium on October 7 to play South Africa.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Fabien Barthez (Manchester United), Ulrich Rame (Girondins Bordeaux), Lionel Letizi (Paris St Germain)

Defenders: Vincent Candela (AS Roma), Bixente Lizarazu (Bayern Munich), Frank Leboeuf (Chelsea), Marcel Desailly (Chelsea), Lilian Thuram (Parme), Philippe Christanval (Monaco), Martin Djetou (Monaco)

Midfielders: Patrick Vieira (Arsenal), Emmanuel Petit (Barcelona), Claude Makelele (Real Madrid), Youri Djorkaeff (Kaiserslautern), Zinedine Zidane (Juventus)