© EuroFootball.com
The joyful news reached the fans of the France national team's vice champions - the team will continue to be represented by Lilian Thuram and Claude Makelele, who had previously announced the end of their careers.
The veterans of the French team had already retired from the national team after the 2004 European Championship, but later returned and this summer helped win the title of World Vice Champions. After the World Cup, Claude Makelele immediately stated that he was retiring from the national team forever.
However, now, after a conversation with the team coach Raymond Domenech, both players decided to extend their participation in their national team. Both players should represent the team in the first European Championship qualifying match against Georgia on September 2nd.
The 34-year-old Thuram is the French player with the most appearances in the national team, having represented France 121 times. Switching to Barcelona this summer, the defender is only worried about one thing - that due to his age, he will not be able to play successfully for both Barcelona and the national team.
"I am already 34 and I play for the best club in the world, so I am afraid that I may not be able to play as successfully for both Barcelona and the national team," Thuram said.
"Nevertheless, I will definitely play in the match against Georgia. During the whole time I was on vacation, no matter where I was, in Africa or the USA, I always felt the urge to return and thank all those people who prayed for me to stay," explained the player his choice to continue his career in the national team.
French national team lineup:
Goalkeepers: Gregory Coupet (Lyon) Mickael Landreau (P.S.G)
Defenders: Eric Abidal (Lyon) Jean-Alain Boumsong (Juventus) Francois Clerc (Lyon) William Gallas (Chelsea) Gael Givet (Monaco) Willy Sagnol (Bayern) Liliam Thuram (Barcelona)
Midfielders: Alou Diarra (Lens) Claude Makelele (Chelsea) Florent Malouda (Lyon) Rio Mavuba (Bordeaux) Patrick Vieira (Inter)
Forwards: Sidney Govou (Lyon) Thierry Henry (Arsenal) Franck Ribery (Marseille) Louis Saha (Manchester United) David Trezeguet (Juventus) Sylvain Wiltord (Lyon)
