Zidane 'to quit' France

[Taxigirl]

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Inspirational France midfielder Zinedine Zidane will retire from international football on Thursday, according to reports.
The 32-year-old Real Madrid player is set to announce his decision during a television programme.

France coach Raymond Domenech had been optimistic he could persuade Zidane to continue and guide France through to the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Zidane made his debut for France in 1994 and went on to win 93 caps.

The Marseilles-born midfielder immediately fulfilled his potential in his first match for Les Bleus, scoring twice against the Czech Republic.

Zidane finest moment in international football was his starring role in France's 3-0 win over Brazil in the 1998 World Cup final.

His two headers capped a dominant performance by the influential playmaker on home soil.

A thigh injury prevented Zidane repeating his heroics at the World Cup in Japan and South Korea four years later, where he only played one match.

Many of France's World Cup winners retired after the side's quarter-final exit from this summer's European Championship.

Experienced defenders Lilian Thuram, Bixente Lizarazu and Marcel Desailly have all stepped down with Zidane set to follow.

[Salem6]

By Pierre Serisier

PARIS (Reuters) - France playmaker Zinedine Zidane has announced he is ending his international career after a 10-year spell with Les Bleus.



"My international career is over now," the 32-year-old playmaker said on his website on Thursday. "I called the coach yesterday to let him know I had made up my mind. I think it was the right time to say 'stop'. At least, it was the time for me to do so," he said.

France coach Raymond Domenech confirmed the news as he unveiled his squad for next week's friendly against Bosnia.

"Zidane will not play for France anymore. I'm sorry about it. I would have liked him to carry on. He thought he had to leave the place to young players," said Domenech.

Zidane has had a long and successful career with France, winning the 1998 World Cup and the 2000 European championship.

His retirement closes a glorious chapter in French soccer history with only goalkeeper Fabien Barthez remaining from the team that beat Brazil to become world champions in 1998.

Zidane's announcement came after defenders Lilian Thuram, Bixente Lizarazu and captain Marcel Desailly all called time on their international careers since the end of Euro 2004.

"This is the end of a story," Zidane said. "It's important to know when your time to go has come. Some players had done it in 2000 and in 2002. Others like me are doing it now."

The French number 10 who earned 93 caps and scored 26 goals for France said that he had been considering his international retirement for quite some time.

"I had this idea even before the European championship. I think I would have left even if we had a good result. Obviously it's easier to leave when you lose than when you win."

"There is a day when you understand that he have to make room for the youths, to leave them enough time to prepare themselves for the 2006 World Cup."

WORLD RECORD

Zidane, widely regarded as the best French player since Michel Platini, made his debut with Les Bleus in August 1994 as a substitute against Czech Republic, scoring two goals in three minutes to help France come from behind and earn a 2-2 draw.

He made his professional debuts in Cannes before joining Girondins Bordeaux in 1992 and then to Juventus in 1996.

His transfer from the Italian club to Real Madrid was worth a record 75 million euros (50 million pounds) in 2001. His contract with the Spanish team runs until 2007.

"My decision is going to give me more time to focus on my job with Madrid," he said. "I will also have more time to rest throughout the season."

The Frenchman said his best memory with France was the 1998 World Cup final when he headed two goals in the first half of the 3-0 victory over Brazil.

"I will always remember all these people celebrating and chanting in the streets. The colour of the skin didn't matter anymore. There was only the joy. It will remain like one of the greatest moments in my life."

France begin their qualifying campaign for the 2006 World Cup next month and will have to find a replacement for Zidane, though Domenech has delayed any decision on the matter.

The French coach said the number 10 shirt, normally worn by Zidane, would be temporarily retired as "it would be too heavy to carry".

Zidane's decision, however, has angered AJ Auxerre coach Guy Roux, who said the player should be available for his country until he retires from all soccer.

"I found it's out of place for a player to be considered like a first choice by his club and to refuse to carry the national team colours," said Roux.

"It's not up to him to decide. It's (up) to the coach."


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[Salem6]

PARIS, Aug 12 (Reuters) - Factbox on France midfielder Zinedine Zidane who decided to end his 10-year international career on Thursday:

1972 - Born June 23, Marseille, France.

1988 - Joins AS Cannes. Scores six goals in 61 league appearances.

1992 - Joins Girondins Bordeaux. Scores 28 goals in 139 league appearances during four seasons.

1994 - August 17, makes France debut versus Czech Republic. Scores two goals in 17 minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute.

1995-96 - UEFA Cup runner-up with Bordeaux.

1996 - Moves to Juventus. Helps the club win two Serie A titles in his first two full seasons.

1996 - Wins the European Super Cup and the World Club Cup with Juventus.

1997 - May 28, plays for Juventus in 3-1 defeat by Borussia Dortmund in final of Champions League in Munich.

1998 - May 20, plays for Juventus in 1-0 defeat by Real Madrid in final of Champions League in Amsterdam.

1998 - June 1, sent off after 70 minutes of France's 4-0 first-round victory over Saudi Arabia in World Cup. Misses next two matches.

1998 - July 12, heads two first-half goals to help France win their first World Cup with a 3-0 victory over Brazil.

1998 - December 21, wins the 1998 European Player of the Year award -- the Balon d'Or.

1999 - February 1, wins FIFA 1998 World Player of the Year award.

2000 - June, named player of the tournament as he helps France to victory in Euro 2000.

2000 - September, extends his contract with Juventus to 2005.

2000 - October, receives five-match ban from UEFA after being sent off for headbutting Jochen Kientz of Hamburg SV. It is Zidane's second successive sending off in Champions League matches.

2000 - December, wins FIFA World Player of the Year for the second time.

2001 - Juventus finish second in Serie A, two points behind champions Roma. Zidane plays what turns out to be his last match for Juve in a 2-1 victory over Atalanta. Scored 28 goals in a total of 191 matches in five seasons at Juventus.

2001 - June, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez expresses interest in signing Zidane

2001 - July 9, becomes the world's most expensive player as he moves from Juventus to Real Madrid for up to $66 million.

2002 - May 15, helps Real Madrid win the Champions League with a majestic winner in the 2-1 final victory over Bayer Leverkusen.

2002 - May 27, a thigh injury picked up in a warm-up match against South Korea forces Zidane out of the first two matches of the World Cup finals.

He returns for the final group match against Denmark but has no impact as France lose 2-0 and head out of the tournament without scoring a goal.

2002 - August 30, part of Real side that wins the European Super Cup with 3-1 victory against Feyenoord in Monaco.

2002 - December 3, wins second World Club Cup as Real beat South American champions Olimpia 2-0 in Yokohama.

2003 - Wins Spanish title with Real Madrid, leads France into Euro 2004 finals with perfect record of eight wins from eight matches.

December 15 - Named FIFA World Player of the Year for the third time.

2004 - Extends his Real Madrid contract until June 30 2007.

April 22 - Named top European Player of the last 50 years in a public poll to mark UEFA's Golden Jubilee celebrations.

June 13 - Scores an injury-time free kick and penalty as France stage an astonishing comeback to beat England 2-1 at Euro 2004. Captains the side in place of injured Marcel Desailly.

June 21 - France beaten 1-0 by unheralded Greece in the quarter-finals, Zidane's final international match.

August 12 - Ends his France career almost 10 years since earning his first cap.


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