Leicester Citys NGolo Kante has been named in the France squad for the first time. The talismanic midfielder has been called up for the upcoming friendlies against the Netherlands and Russia.Dimitri Payet of West Ham has also been included in Didier Deschamps 23-man selection. Kante has been an integral part of Leicesters unlikely rise to the summit of English football this season; he has made more tackles and interceptions (247) than any other player in Europes top five leagues.His selection came on the same day Roy Hodgson called up Kantes midfielder partner Danny Drinkwater to the England squad for the first time. Danny Drinkwater included in England squad for first time Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri feels that international call ups are just reward for the efforts of his previously unsung players.He said: NGolo Kanté understood immediately the tempo and rhythm of the Premier League. He is a strong player. This is another step. Some players who havent been with their national teams now start to get called up.Its good because it means were working well. He (Drinkwater) deserves it because all season hes working well with good quality and is now scoring goals.Hes always available for his team-mates. He has the personality to command a game and has a very good partnership with Kante. France manager Didier Deschamps Kante takes the place of Manchester Uniteds Morgan Schneiderlin in Deschamps squad.NGolo Kante is putting in high-level performances, Deschamps said.As for Schneiderlin, Deschamps added: Its not that I dont have confidence in Morgan, I know what he can do, but before making final decisions (on the Euro 2016 squad) its important that NGolo comes with us to get more answers. Dimitri Payet of West Ham is also included for the two friendly matches West Ham forward Payet moved to London last summer and has scored 11 times as Slaven Bilics side enjoy one of their best ever Premier League campaigns.Fellow English-based stars Hugo Lloris, Laurent Koscielny, Bacary Sagna, Mamadou Sakho, Yohan Cabaye, Moussa Sissoko, Olivier Giroud and Anthony Martial are all in the squad for the pair of March friendlies.France 23-man squad: Goalkeepers: Benoît Costil (Rennes), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham), Steve Mandanda (Marseille)Defenders: Lucas Digne (Roma), Patrice Evra (Juventus), Christophe Jallet (Lyon), Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal), Jérémy Mathieu (Barcelona), Bacary Sagna (Manchester City), Mamadou Sakho (Liverpool), Raphaël Varane (Real Madrid)Midfielders: Yohan Cabaye (Crystal Palace), Lassana Diarra (Marseille), Ngolo Kanté (Leicester), Blaise Matuidi (PSG), Paul Pogba (Juventus), Moussa Sissoko (Newcastle) Forwards: Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich), André-Pierre Gignac (Tigres de Monterrey), Olivier Giroud (Arsenal), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Anthony Martial (Manchester United), Dimitri Payet (West Ham) Also See: Ligue 1 fixtures Ligue 1 table Bet ￡5 Get ￡20 Free Adidas Superstar Shoes Australia . James, who turned 29 on Monday, injured his groin Friday during the Heats overtime loss at Sacramento. He sat out the following game, a 108-107 win Saturday in Portland, before coming back to help send the Nuggets to their seventh consecutive loss. Adidas Superstar Australia Cheap . -- The St. Johns IceCaps weathered a wild first period with the help of goaltender Jussi Olkinuora, before finding offensive inroads in the second. http://www.superstaraustraliacheap.com/ . At a Manhattan federal court hearing, attorney Jordan Siev said his law office has gotten more evidence nearly every day to support its lawsuit accusing MLB and Selig of going on a "witch hunt" to ruin Rodriguezs reputation and career. He said the defendants went "way over the line. Adidas Superstar Clearance Sale . "I wrote 36 on my sheet at the beginning of the game," the Cincinnati coach said, referring the yard line the ball would need to be snapped from. Buy Adidas Superstar Australia .Y. -- Bills receiver Stevie Johnson has a bone to pick with the NFL schedule maker. LEXINGTON, Va. -- Chris Clemons hit five 3-pointers and scored 24 points to help lead Campbell to its first road win of the season, a 67-53 win over VMI on Saturday.Clemons finished 8 of 19 from the field overall. Shane Whitfield added 13 points and five rebounds while Andrew Eudy had a career best nine points for Campbell (2-3).The Fighting Camels led 29-23 at the break and began to pull away midway through the second half. Eudy made a jumper with 11:40 to go to give them a 10 point lead, sparking an 8-0 spurt that ended with a Clemons 3-pointer and a 50-34 advantage.ddddddddddddA QJ Peterson 3-point play for VMI managed to trim its deficit back to 12, but the Keydets (1-4) never got below double digits.Peterson was the only Keydet in double figures, finishing with 17 points. ' ' '