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Zinedine Zidane and Claude Makelele denied their earlier promises to leave the French national team forever and unexpectedly announced that they have decided to return to the national squad.
Both players had firmly decided to end their careers in the national team of their homeland after the 2004 European Championship and categorically denied any talks about the possibility of returning, but now they have radically changed their minds.
It is believed that the players were prompted to reconsider due to France's poor performance in the qualification for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, where in their group, the "Les Bleus" won only 2 matches and ended 4 in a draw, currently occupying only the fourth place, three points behind the leading Irish team.
Both players are expected to return to the team next month when France will play the qualifying match at home against the Faroe Islands team, but the most serious test awaits them on September 7th when the French will have to play against the Irish national team away.
The coach of the French national team, Raymond Domenech, upon hearing the players' decision to return, did not hide his joy: "I am very happy that the team will have players like Zidane and Makelele again, whose experience and talent will definitely strengthen our squad."
"When I arrived at the team, I immediately said that only the best players will play in my team. There always comes a time when some players express their desire to retire from the national team and I understand them perfectly. Today, I am very happy because with just a few weeks left before the qualifying matches, the players who had decided to leave the team have returned to it," Domenech officially spoke to the website of the French Football Federation.
