Zidane Retires...

[Krazy_K]

Zidane retires from international football

PARIS: France’s inspirational playmaker and captain Zinedine Zidane on Thursday announced his retirement from the national team after an illustrious career in which he won 93 caps and a World Cup winner’s medal.

“I think that at a given moment you must say ‘stop’,” Zidane said in a statement. “I have thought long and hard over this decision,” he said. “It’s the end of my international career with the French team. “It’s the time, it’s my time. It’s the end of a cycle: there have been some great players who retired in 2000 and 2002, other players are doing it and now I’m doing it. It’s like that. You have to stop one day,” said the Real Madrid player.

Zidane said the decision was not taken in light of France’s disappointing display in the Euro 2004 competition. “I thought about it before Euro (2004). Independent of the result, I had anticipated quitting the French team. It is of course much easier to do that when you’re losing than when you’re winning,” the father-of-three said.

New French coach Raymond Domenech said Monday he had not given up hope of persuading 32-year-old “Zizou” to continue an international career in which he also helped France secure the 2000 European Championship. But on Thursday, he had bowed to the inevitable and expressed his “regret” at Zidane’s announcement.

“I regret it, like most Frenchmen. We met, we talked. Zidane thought things through and decided that it would be better to give up his place to the young players. “I regret it but I accept it,” said Domenech. “The debate is over. We turn the page calmly over and carry on.” Zidane made his debut for France as a replacement in the 2-2 friendly with the Czech Republic in 1994, scoring both goals. He went on to score 26 goals during his 93 appearances and captained the team 11 times.

The highlight of the former Juventus and Bordeaux player’s career was his starring role in the 3-0 victory over Brazil in the final of the 1998 World Cup tournament which France hosted. Zidane stands sixth in the list of France’s most capped players behind Marcel Desailly, Didier Deschamps, Lilian Thuram, Laurent Blanc and Bixente Lizarazu. Thuram, Lizarazu and Desailly have already recently announced their retirement from international football following Euro 2004

[Asuka's Gonna Kill You]

Pretty glad. Now he can enjoy his time at Madrid and start showing people why they should't class Madrid as an 'Okay team' like everyone does today.

[Jonny D]

It's a shame for France, but to be honest I saw this coming. He's still a good player, and hopefully he'll help Madrid out even more now.

[TheArsenal]

Thuram, Lizarazu, Desailly and Zidane all retiring from the French team.

Ouch for them.

[G-O-D]

Zidane is wise to retire while he is still at the top rather when the national team forces him to retire. Retiring from the national team prolly means that Zizou has added a few more years to his club career.

[Stevie B]

Au Revoir Zidane.