Zidane crucial, says Deschamps
(China Daily)
Updated: 2005-08-06 07:50

PARIS: France's World Cup-winning skipper Didier Deschamps believes midfield superstar Zinedine Zidane can fire the 1998 champions to the finals in Germany next summer.

Zidane stunned football by announcing he was coming out of international retirement in an effort to rescue France's faltering World Cup qualifying campaign.

Deschamps, now the coach of Monaco, insists that the return of the former World Footballer of the Year will be crucial.

"I don't know what happened to change his mind but it is essential that he returns for the good of everybody," said Deschamps.

"With him, the French team gains extra weight and he represents an extra threat for the team's opponents."

Zidane insisted on Thursday that he is not concerned his reputation will suffer by coming out of retirement.

His return comes at a time when the national side are struggling to qualify for the 2006 World Cup finals.

"I haven't calculated risks. I work with my desire, with my spirit. Above everything else it is a personal decision," said the Real Madrid midfielder.

"A year ago I took a big decision that I wanted to stop playing with the national team. It was categoric. Today I have turned 180 degrees.

"I know that this has surprised some people but it doesn't worry me, it is a wish that I have to return to the French side.

"Playing for the team has given me my greatest satisfaction, my greatest joy."

Fellow midfielder Claude Makelele has also said he is coming out of international retirement with defender Lilian Thuram tipped to follow suit.

Zidane has played 93 times for the national team scoring 26 goals including two goals in the 1998 World Cup final win against Brazil.

He also played in the successful Euro 2000 team but his last game was the 1-0 quarter-final defeat to Greece in Euro 2004.

France are currently fourth in Group 4 of the qualifying campaign for the 2006 World Cup finals, three points behind group leaders Republic of Ireland with a game in hand.

Switzerland are second with 12 points, with Israel in third spot on 11.

France's next World Cup qualifiers are against the Faroe Islands at home on September 3 and the Republic of Ireland in Dublin four days later.

"I am proud of the decision I have taken," said Zidane who was speaking from a Real Madrid training camp in Irdning in Austria.

"Proud and moved every time I talk about it. I know the keen interest this will lead to. It is enormous but I am not focused on that. But I am touched that the people are so happy."

Zidane believes Thuram will copy his international U-turn and return to help France qualify for Germany.

"I've no doubt we'll be going to the World Cup. We know what we have to do," he told cable TV Canal Plus.

Thuram, who plays for Juventus, was expected to confirm his return to the French squad later this week.

All three quit after France were knocked out of Euro 2004.

"Claude Makelele and I took our decisions just as Lilian Thuram will most certainly do," Zidane said.

(China Daily 08/06/2005 page11)

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