Marie-Laure de Lorenzi, Karine Icher and Patricia Meunier Lebouc have laid a strong French foundation in the Solheim Cup, but this is the first time that two players have gratefully said "merci beaucoup" to a European call-up.

Ludivine Kreutz - Solheim rookie

Ludivine Kreutz, a three-time Tour winner, and Gwaldys Nocera, a player who is as solid as a rock, gained their places by right, finishing third and seventh respectively in the Solheim rankings. With impressive games and warm personalities, they will be fine assets to the side.

For both, it was not only the reward for years of hard work, but also, they hope, a launching pad for even greater things to come. As the contest at Crooked Stick in Indiana drew near, the emotion flowing through their Gallic veins was one of intense excitement.

"I can't wait," admitted Ludivine, a 31-year-old in her eighth season on Tour. "This is something I've been dreaming about for a long time.

"I had a lot of good finishes and said to myself I had a big chance of making the Solheim, but it was when I won the Tenerife Open at the start of this year that I really believed I could make the team. Then when I won again at the OTP Central Bank Ladies' European Open in Hungary in July then I knew I had almost made it."

Ludivine has little experience of America - she did qualify for the 1998 US Women's Open - but has no fear of taking on the best the US can offer. "I know there will be a lot of tension next week, but I'm just so looking forward to it."

Gwladys Nocera

She has also had some advice from Cup veterans. "Iben Tinning told me that I would be scared stiff - but she also said it is great fun: that you can almost feel the burst of adrenaline and it makes you hit some fantastic shots.

"I know it is going to be very special playing for the European team."

When the going does get tough, Ludivine and Gwladys will be happy to be able to exchange notes in their native tongue.

"I speak English a lot, but it is very nice to have someone else in the team that speaks my own language," said 30-year-old Gwladys. "I played college golf in America at New Mexico State University so I know something about the conditions. But the Solheim Cup is going to be huge.

"At the start of the qualifying campaign, it wasn't really one of my goals to make the team. But then I started to put together some good results and I suddenly realised 'I can do this.' And now I'm there.

"It's lovely for French golf that there are two players in the side this time. We are now building a good Solheim tradition with Marie-Laure, Karine and Patricia and I am very proud to follow in their footsteps."

For Ludivine, Gwladys and the rest of the European team, it is a place in history that is the most exciting beckoning call at Crooked Stick.

Captain Catrin Nilsmark and her troop of 12 are totally focused, and utterly determined, to become the first European side to win on US soil.