Zidane out of International Retirement???

Necronomicon

Sky are just reporting now, he's come out of internationl retirement to help France save their qualification campaign!

Brian017

Zidane and Makelele come out of international retirement.

Drag00n79

Bad bad news.
I just saw this on l'equipe. Translated with babelfish, so apologies for that.

Zinédine Zidane and Claude Makelele should make their return for France for the meeting with the Ivory Coast on Wednesday August 17, according to information published on Zidane's official site. The number 5 of Real Madrid announced on Wednesday, that the decision was made in agreement with the manager. "Raymond Domenech came to see me two or three times in Madrid, said Zidane on his site. We spoke and he said to me what he expected of me and us, because I speak on my behalf and that of Claude Makélélé since Claude also will play again for the France team. Zidane reconsidered his decision without still explaining it. "I return for something very important for me. I decided to return to the Blues. One year on, I reconsider a decision which to me was categorical. As I always said, the France team was the most important thing to me. To have spoken with the trainer, it was important. I reflected on it well and I want to play again for France. I do not want to return to the details, like the whys and it hows. One year ago I was categorical. I do not want to return as Zorro, as a saver. I answer something just while having reflected well during my holidays. France gave me so much that I want to help it." "For the first time of my life, I return on something of very important. When I had made my decision, I had not taken it lightly. I had maturely reflected. Today, I make the same thing in the opposite direction. Yes, I am moved. Yes, I know that I return in a way where many people will be able to say: "Why did he do it? Why now? Why to have waited so a long time?" I believe that it is especially because I left on holiday and that I said myself that was nothing big left for me to be played for in football. And I want to benefit the maximum from it. And here, I want to help the team of France."

county

proof please!

Necronomicon

I didn't hear anything about Makalele come out of retirement, that sucks too, after the type of season he had with Chelsea last season. Plus, possibly a rejuvenated Vieira after his move to Juve....could be bad news!
Is Andy O' Brien suspended for the France game or just the Cyprus? Because Dunne is obviously going to be out, we're pretty short of cover.

Drag00n79

See other thread for l'equipe info. True, I'm afraid.

Brian017

Shamrock posted proof on the other thread.


Could a mod lock this thread?

Brian017

The gods are against us.

eirebhoy

Just home from work to see that on the SSN ticker.

cournioni

Oh bollox... *looks at the date*, it isn't April fools either...

PHB

Bring it on!
it'll make victory all the more sweet

20 Times 20 Times

Major blow for ireland

lili

i just heard the news on french tv. he is back along with makelele.
he annonced it in his site.

cool:)

andyman

Sh*t!! The worst of our problems at the mo

soma

eek.... :eek:

lili

and maybe also thuram will be back.
the old guard.

lili

one half with zizou and the other half with dhorasoo.
it will be bloody.

Spider_Baby!

For fvck sake. I was thinking it might be possible to qualify this year, too! Well, technically it is still possible,but...fvck sake!!

evilhomer

It's not going to make qualification any easier
Zidane and Makalele will make life very uncomfortable for us.

Wonder what Kerr thought when he heard this news :eek:

We look like we might be missing Kenny Cunningham with broken ribs for that match too.

Chucky the tree

the shocking results against isreal(twice) might be very costly now.

Lex Luthor

those 2 muppets ain't gonna make too much of a difference to that side except increase their avg age to 35.
We'll have 'em

Pepe LeFrits

With that tool Domenech in charge, I'm not that bothered. France were still piss with those two, and they haven't gotten any better since they retired the first time round.

A 4-5-1 would suit France well, knowing Domenech tho he'll probably play Makelele left wing and Zidane in attack. Bring it on.

eirebhoy

evilhomer wrote:

We look like we might be missing Kenny Cunningham with broken ribs for that match too.

He has a partially collapsed lung and will definitely make the France match.

http://www.eleven-a-side.com/acrossthewater/irish_soccer_detail.asp?newsid=18522

Ponster

Just to let you know that the response in France is pretty bad at the moment. Lots of people feel tht once you retire and decide not to play for your country that you shouldn't be allowed play again( even if it's clear that a lot of pressure was put on him).
Also it doesn't say much for the current players if you have to bring back the old boys. And the new system that they were working on, does it go out the window and France go back to playing the old game?

I think that it'll cause more harm than good for France.

Lex Luthor

Only Roy is allowed to come out of retirement.
The rest are just copy cats and it won't work.

Pigman II

I think it's a good sign. It shows that people within the French camp don't have faith in the current setup and are now looking for someone to bail them out.

No doubt Zidane and Makelele have the tools to punish us but I'm no more concerned about the September fixture now that I was before this news.

Guy:Incognito

I think they need to get Platini back in there, him and Zidane would be great playoing together . if your old enough, your good enough

besty

Zidane is a worry. Hopefully keano + A.N. Other can do a job on the French midfield to nullify the great man's threat. I still think we will get the right result from the match

Drag00n79

Out of curiosity, I was looking there for an English language message board for fans of the France team. The only one I found mostly in English was BigSoccer Boards. Worth having a look — very gung-ho and a few digs at us as well (at least I think some are — they're in French!). Btw, they all expect Thuram to return now as well.

Davei141

Some french guy wrote:

Ireland is the one shaking in their booties right now.

from the forum.

Drag00n79

Paddy Power odds on the Ireland—France match are:

Ireland 2/1
France 11/10
Draw 9/4

They have also put together a few 'Specials' on the match following Zidane's and Makalele's announcements.
Zidane to score a penalty 5/1
Zidane to score direct from a free kick 6/1
Makalele to score in the match 13/2
Zidane to score a hat-trick in the match 66/1
Zidane to score twice in injury time to win the match 150/1
The two Zinedenes (Kilbane & Zidane) to score in the match 12/1
Both Makalele & Zidane to score in the match 22/1
Roy Keane to be sent off for a foul on either Zidane or Makalele 50/1
Makalele to be sent off for a foul on Damian Duff 66/1
Johnny Giles to come out of retirement and play v France 2000/1

G'wan Johnny!

eirebhoy

Zidane said he has no doubt Thuram will return aswell. They may be old but they are still 3 world class players.

lili

frankly guys, i don't think that zizou would be our saviour, i'm just happy to see him again in blue, just for the beauty of the game:)

Big Ears

If Makelele , Zidane and Vieira all play they will lack width . A midfield of those 3 plus Pires will mean only one winger and although Zidane is a damn great player (even while playing left mid) they will not get many crosses from that side .
France's problem in the Euro's was width , now they have that problem again .

I doubt makelele would come back without expecting to play BTW so it seems their going to have to be like that . Thuram is a very good player but he's not the once great full-back of a couple of years ago . Still better than some of the clowns they have tryed to replace him with though .

lili

Big Ears wrote:

If Makelele , Zidane and Vieira all play they will lack width . A midfield of those 3 plus Pires will mean only one winger and although Zidane is a damn great player (even while playing left mid) they will not get many crosses from that side .
France's problem in the Euro's was width , now they have that problem again .

I doubt makelele would come back without expecting to play BTW so it seems their going to have to be like that . Thuram is a very good player but he's not the once great full-back of a couple of years ago . Still better than some of the clowns they have tryed to replace him with though .

pires is nomore in french squad, domenech doesn't want him.

i disagree with you about the replace of thuram. of course thuram is a world class player but i think that a guy like willy sagnol is a great replacement.

Pepe LeFrits

I don't think Pires playing is going to be an issue. The team I'd pick would be:

............ Henry
Malouda .... Zidane ... Giuly
............ Vieira
........... Makelele
Evra .. Gallas . Boumsong . Sagnol
............ Barthez

Not much chance of seeing that though I think

lili

kaids wrote:

I don't think Pires playing is going to be an issue. The team I'd pick would be:

............ Henry
Malouda .... Zidane ... Giuly
............ Vieira
........... Makelele
Evra .. Gallas . Boumsong . Sagnol
............ Barthez

Not much chance of seeing that though I think

i like your formation. maybe coupet would finally take the place of barthez. i rather would like barthez because fetishism stuff:D

also maybe wiltord would start instead giuly.

lili

it could be also in that way :

---

Coupet

---

Sagnol

---

Givet

---

Squillaci

---

Evra/Abidal

---

Makelele

---

Vieira

---

Pedretti

---

---

Zidane

---

---

Trezeguet/Cisse

---

Henry

---

lili

what do you think about keane (the one of tottenham)?
he killed my team (lyon) in the final of peace cup.

Drag00n79

lili wrote:

what do you think about keane (the one of tottenham)?
he killed my team (lyon) in the final of peace cup.

Killed? :eek:
Trez is out of the Ireland match isn't he?

Necronomicon

Shamrok wrote:

Killed? :eek:
Trez is out of the Ireland match isn't he?

Oh yeah I forgot, he got sent off against Israel.

lili

Shamrok wrote:

Killed? :eek:
Trez is out of the Ireland match isn't he?

yes, he killed my team. scored twice:(

trezeguet is suspended for 2 matches. because he gave a head kick to a israeli player.

lili

well, you didn't answer to my question, should we be worried about this keane?
because even if lyon defense has been crap, he has been quite efficient.

Drag00n79

Oh yes, we actually call him 'Keano The Killer' because he 'kills' so many teams. And he seems to have a certain penchant for French teams for some reason. So, my advice Lili, my French friend, is yes be worried ...be very worried!

Legal Disclaimer: None of the above is true

lili

Shamrok wrote:

Oh yes, we actually call him 'Keano The Killer' because he 'kills' so many teams. And he seems to have a certain penchant for French teams for some reason. So, my advice Lili, my French friend, is yes be worried ...be very worried!

Legal Disclaimer: None of the above is true

sound ironical indeed:)
well, will you have a friendly before the big match?

Drag00n79

We are playing Italy in Dublin the same evening France play the Ivory Coast.

lili

Shamrok wrote:

We are playing Italy in Dublin the same evening France play the Ivory Coast.

ouch!
good luck then.

eirebhoy

lili - I was just watching a review of the Ligue 1 04/05 season and it just reminded me that Barthez got a 6 month ban back in March or April. Will he miss the Ireland game?

well, you didn't answer to my question, should we be worried about this keane?
because even if lyon defense has been crap, he has been quite efficient.

You can't predict how well Keane will play. People say he's only good against the lower ranked teams but I don't believe that. All I can say is he's unpredictable. He did a bit of training alone in the summer and has had a great pre-season. He was voted the best player of that Peace cup and was top scorer only starting in 2 of the 4 games.

lili

not sure of that, but i think barthez will miss the match.

Chucky the tree

suspension was actually extended. He will be out till december.

lili

so it will be coupet.

by the way, make me a pleasure, beat the italians at the friendly;)