World Cup Corner

Via Reuters - Zinedine Zidane’s return to international duty along with Lilian Thuram and Claude Makelele will give France something extra when they play Ivory Coast in a friendly next Wednesday, said coach Raymond Domenech.

Real Madrid playmaker Zidane, Juventus defender Thuram and Chelsea midfielder Makelele were included in Domenech’s squad for the game in Montpellier.

‘I’m happy they’re back. No more discussions, no more second thoughts,’ Domenech told reporters on Thursday.

‘They will bring a maturity we needed, their technical skills in difficult moments.’

Zidane and Thuram called it a day shortly after France suffered a quarter-final exit at the hands of eventual winners Greece at Euro 2004.

Makelele ended his international career after France’s goalless draw against Israel in a World Cup qualifier on September 4, 2004.

However, all three players announced last week they were ready to come back in order to boost France’s hopes of qualifying for the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany.

Domenech decided to pick 21 players even if he will only be able to put 18 names on the match sheet.

‘It’s an important game, so I needed to gather everyone. Even if I can only use 18 players, I decided to pick 21 so that I can see everybody,’ he said.

The August 17 match will be played 11 years to the day after Zidane and Thuram won their first caps against the Czech Republic in a 2-2 draw in which Zidane scored both French goals.

Makelele’s recall meant Olympique Lyon midfielder Benoit Pedretti, a regular since Domenech took over from Jacques Santini after France’s failure at Euro 2004, was omitted from the squad.

Arsenal midfielder Robert Pires, who won his 79th cap in France’s 2-0 win in Cyprus on October 13, 2004, has once again been left out.

David Trezeguet’s call-up comes as a surprise as the Juventus striker is nursing a slight ankle injury and will be suspended for France’s next two World Cup qualifiers.

However, Domenech said Trezeguet would be fit for the game.

France were originally supposed to play Senegal at the Stade de France but French officials agreed to call off that game after a request from the Senegalese soccer federation, who cited ‘the current situation of the national team’.

The Ivory Coast game will be Les Bleus’ final warm-up before playing four key matches in their bid to qualify for the World Cup.

France, World Cup winners in 1998, are struggling in fourth place behind Ireland, Switzerland and Israel in European qualifying Group Four.

They meet the Faroe Islands in Lens in their next qualifier on September 3, before away games in Ireland four days later and Switzerland on October 8.

Their final qualifier will be against Cyprus at the Stade de France on October 12.