[EURO 2012 COUNTDOWN] Hatem Ben Arfa, who scored golazos this season for Newcastle United against Bolton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers, earned a recall for the French national team for Euro 2012. Ben Arfa, who hasn't played for France since Dutchman Nigel de Jong broke his leg in a horrible challenge in 2010, was one of 12 foreign-based players called up by Laurent Blanc. France's domestic-based players will be named next week after the conclusion of the Ligue 1 season.

Blanc picked four center backs in Younes Kaboul, Laurent Koscielny, Philippe Mexes and Adil Rami.

France will open training camp at the Clairefontaine center on May 18.