Zinedine Zidane was expectedly left out of the squad, as was team-mate Claude Makelele, due to their club's ongoing battle for the Spanish title.
Santini also has injury problems in midfield as both Emmanuel Petit and Patrick Vieira are injured, leading to the inclusion of Dabo.
The former Rennes man has scored four goals from midfield for Atalanta this season and will be delighted to have the chance to impress Santini.
Olivier Dacourt and Monaco's Ludovic Giuly make a return to the squad, while Auxerre's cup hero Jean-Alain Boumsong has received his first call.
Boumsong was included as a replacement in Santini's last squad due to injury to team-mate Philippe Mexes, but the two are now included from the start of the tournament.
The squad will gather in Clairefontaine on June 11 to prepare for the competition in which they will face New Zealand, Colombia and Japan in Group A.
Full squad:
Fabien Barthez (Manchester United), Gregory Coupet (Lyon), Mickael Landreau (Nantes), Jean-Alain Boumsong (Auxerre), Philippe Mexes (Auxerre), Marcel Desailly (Chelsea), William Gallas (Chelsea), Bixente Lizarazu (Bayern Munich), Willy Sagnol (Bayern Munich), Mikael Silvestre (Manchester United), Lilian Thuram (Juventus), Ousmane Dabo (Atalanta), Olivier Dacourt (AS Roma), Ludovic Giuly (Monaco), Jerome Rothen (Monaco), Olivier Kapo (Auxerre), Benoit Pedretti (Sochaux), Robert Pires (Arsenal), Sylvain Wiltord (Arsenal), Djibril Cisse (Auxerre), Sydney Govou (Lyon), Thierry Henry (Arsenal), Steve Marlet (Fulham).
