GALLAS: STAKES WILL BE HIGH

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William Gallas maintains France are treating the match against England as more than just a friendly.

The clash at the Stade de France will be Les Bleus’ last before coach Raymond Domenech names his 23-man squad for this summer’s European Championships.

They will be looking to bounce back from their 1-0 defeat to Spain last month, but there will be added spice due to the fact so many of the French squad play – or have played – in the Barclays Premier League.

Arsenal skipper Gallas is one of those and he said: “We know it is always a bit more tense between the English and the French.

“We appreciate each other, but we always want to show that we are better than them.

“The stakes will be high, the stadium will be full. And in our heads, we can’t just consider this as simply a friendly.

“For players who have played in England or who are still there, it is always an added motivation.”

Other current Premier League players set to take some part in the match include Claude Makelele, Florent Malouda, Patrice Evra, Nicolas Anelka and Mathieu Flamini.

gallas.jpgAnelka, who plays for Chelsea, could be partnered up front by David Trezeguet.

The last time the pair played together was last September, in France’s famous 1-0 defeat to Scotland at the Parc des Princes.

Trezeguet has not featured for his country since, but gets another chance seven months on thanks to injuries to Thierry Henry and Karim Benzema.

The Juventus striker has dismissed the theory his chances of making France’s Euro 2008 squad are entirely dependent on his display against England.

BECKHAM WINs 100th CAP

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England boss Fabio Capello has confirmed David Beckham will win his 100th cap in Wednesday’s friendly with France in Paris.

Beckham has been stuck on 99 appearances for his country since the end of last year and speculation about his participation has dogged the build-up to this week’s game.

But Italian boss Capello revealed he will certainly feature in some capacity at the Stade de France.

david_beckham.jpgAsked whether Beckham will start the game, Capello told a press conference televised by Sky Sports News: “I’ve yet to decide, though I have made my decision.

“He will play (some part), I could not possibly make him come from the USA and not play him.

“I know David Beckham and what he can give me and I think he can make the difference in some respects. I know what he can give to a team.

“As for the future, we will have to see. Nobody knows what the future holds.”

Capello added: “I think every player would like to reach this target (100 caps) but very few manage it so you have to give David Beckham credit, he has done really well to achieve this.”

Returning to the subject of Beckham’s 100th cap, Capello left the door open for the midfielder to continue his international career all the way through to the next World Cup in 2010.

WESTWOOD SEEKS MASTERS LIFT

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Lee Westwood still has Georgia on his mind even though he has flown out of America and back to Europe this week.

With the Masters now only two weeks away, Westwood defends the Andalucian Open title at Aloha in southern Spain before returning across the Atlantic.

Finishes of 17th and 34th at Bay Hill and Doral the last two weeks were not as good as the Ryder Cup points-leader was looking for, especially as he was only three off the lead at the halfway stage of the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

lee_westwood.jpgBut having started the European Tour season with four successive top 10s, including runners-up finishes in Shanghai and Abu Dhabi, Westwood is hoping a return to a happy hunting ground will provide a timely boost just before the first major of the season.

A two-stroke victory at Aloha last May was the 34-year-old’s first victory for nearly four years, although others were more worried about that long barren run than he was.

“I won so often in the late 90s that if I had a spell where I didn’t win, people were always going to highlight it and get on my case about it,” he said. “But I was never going to get on my own case.”

Last September at The Belfry he added the British Masters by a commanding five shots, his closing 65 bringing back memories of the form he showed in winning the 2000 European Order of Merit.

Westwood has had finishes of fourth in the Open, fifth in the US Open and sixth in the Masters.

That was nine years ago and, sharing the lead as he did with nine holes to go at Augusta, he admitted it was an experience that made him feel physically sick.

This season, though, he has already said: “I feel closer to a major than ever before.

“I like all the major venues this year and I feel ready to have a second career and kick on.”

He is fitter and stronger than ever before, losing six inches off a waist that 18 months ago measured an unhealthy 40 inches, has sharpened up his short game with the help of former Tour player Mark Roe and, of course, has added experience.

He is far from alone in fitting in another European Tour appearance between the CA Championship in Miami and the Masters.

Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez is back – no surprise because he is one of the promoters close to his Malaga home – and so are Dane Anders Hansen, 12th on Monday after the final round spilled into an extra day, and German Martin Kaymer.

Two other players, Welshman Bradley Dredge and Swede Peter Hanson, need to win on Sunday to have a chance of climbing into the world’s top 50 and so claiming a late spot at Augusta.