Fuente : FIFA World Cup 2006
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WORLD CUP 2006: Zidane and Makelele back for Les Bleus

/noticias.info/ Real Madrid playmaker Zinedine Zidane and Chelsea's defensive midfielder Claude Makelele announced on Wednesday that they are to come out of international retirement in an attempt to help France qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™.

The pair will join up with the national side for the friendly with Côte d'Ivoire in Montpellier on 17 August, which is a warm-up for the Group 4 visit to the Republic of Ireland on 7 September.

Zidane, a FIFA World Cup winner in 1998 and European champion in 2000, announced his retirement from international football in August 2004, a few weeks after France's quarter-final defeat by Greece at UEFA EURO 2004.

Makelele, a year Zidane's junior at 32, has also not featured for his country since then. However, it is the return of Zidane which will capture the headlines in France and elsewhere. The Real Madrid star has 93 French caps and 26 international goals to his name, including two memorable headers against Brazil in the final of the 1998 FIFA World Cup.

Explaining his decision, Zidane said: "Raymond Domenech came to see me a few times in Madrid. We talked things over and he told me what he expects of us. I say us because I am speaking about myself and Claude Makelele. Claude is also returning to the France team.

"As I have always said, playing for France is the most important thing that ever happened to me. Speaking with the coach was important. I thought things over and decided to make a comeback. I don't want to go into detail as to why I made this decision. A year ago I was categoric (about quitting), and now I don't want to be seen as a saviour. I am just responding to something, having thought things through on holiday. The France team has given me so much and I want to lend a hand.

"For the first time in my life I've changed my mind about something important," he continued. "My decision to retire was not one I took lightly. I had really thought it through. Now I am making the reverse decision in the same way. Yes, I am excited. Yes, I am going back on something and a lot of people will say, 'Why didn't he change his mind earlier? Why now? Why did he wait so long?'

"I think it is above all because I realised that I will not be playing much longer and I want to make the most of the time I have left. I want to help France."

Reacting to the news, coach Domenech said: "Since I took over as coach, I have often insisted that I want to select the best players for the national side. And while I said that I perfectly understood certain players' decisions to retire from international football, I always said I regretted their retirement.

"Today I am very happy that players who had put their international careers on hold have expressed their wish to return to the fold just a few weeks before some vital matches."

France currently lie fourth in their qualifying group and face tricky trips to the Republic of Ireland in September and then Switzerland in early October. Les Bleus have dropped points at home to all their direct rivals and need to take something from these away games if they are to qualify for Germany 2006. notas_de_prensa_archivo