Thuram back in the french squad

**Eire06** · 08/08/2005, 8:45 AM

It seems all ex-international French players are jumping on the bandwagon!!

Following Zinedine Zidane and Claude Makelele decisions to come out of international retiremant Lilian Thuram has now also decided to make himself available for Frances upcoming world cup qualifiers aswell

Quote from RTE.ie

Thuram announces his France returnSunday, 07 August 2005 3:00

Lilian Thuram's return has added to Brian Kerr's woes

Lilian Thuram has confirmed he will make his international comeback in France's friendly against Ivory Coast in Montpellier on August 17.

The defender will join Zinedine Zidane and Claude Makelele in coming back from international retirement just over 12 months since they quit after their Euro 2004 quarter-final defeat to eventual winners Greece.

Meanwhile, it has been announced that Zinedine Zidane will resume his role as captain when he makes his comeback for France later this month, according to manager Raymond Domenech.

"Zizou is the new captain. It's the right thing to do," Domenech said.

The Real Madrid midfielder said he would be happy to take over the role which Patrick Vieira has held since Zidane retired last year.

Vieira, who signed for Juventus from Arsenal last month, was given the captain's role since Zidane's decision to retire at the end of the European Championships in Portugal.

Domenech has also said that Zidane will play in a central midfield role.

Zidane and Thuram are returning a year after they announced that their international careers were over following France's disappointing elimination by Greece in the European Championships.

France, the World Cup winners in 1998, are currently fourth in Group 4 of the qualifying campaign for the 2006 finals, three points behind leaders the Republic of Ireland on 13 points.

**gspain** · 08/08/2005, 9:13 AM

Just Fontaine, Raymond Kopa and Michel Platini are back now too.

We haven't a hope.

While Zidane, Makjele et al ar ehardly good news for us it could also upset the applecart even more in the squad. Viera won't like losing the armband.

**Soper** · 08/08/2005, 10:16 AM

Sure it'll be alright when we get Cascarino out of retirement

**John83** · 08/08/2005, 3:42 PM

Originally Posted by Soper

Sure it'll be alright when we get Cascarino out of retirement

Who needs Zidane? We've got Brady.

**thejollyrodger** · 08/08/2005, 4:03 PM

France have all the names back but they are off the boil since .. god.. pre Japan. They havent got any better since and ZiZu might be made a fool of

**Stuttgart88** · 08/08/2005, 4:10 PM

The guy's name is Lilian for God's sake. That's definitely a girl's name. Hardly fear insipring!

**gustavo** · 08/08/2005, 4:41 PM

hopefully it will create a bit of dissent in the squad if players are dropped to make way for the return of the old guard.

**eirebhoy** · 08/08/2005, 4:57 PM

Originally Posted by thejollyrodger

France have all the names back but they are off the boil since .. god.. pre Japan.

Nah, they were by far the best team in the Euro 2004 qualifiers.

**mypost** · 09/08/2005, 4:28 AM

Originally Posted by Eire06

It seems all ex-international French players are jumping on the bandwagon!!

Following Zinedine Zidane and Claude Makelele decisions to come out of international retiremant Lilian Thuram has now also decided to make himself available for Frances upcoming world cup qualifiers aswell

France are panicking. They thought they would sail through the qualifying group, and be qualified by the end of March. As they currently lie 4th, and haven't qualified yet, the French are calling on all the big guns to save them. It still might not be enough. ZZ, Makelele, and Thuram won't be able to breeze into the team. France have a new coach, with different ideas to what they were used to previously.

They'll still win in Dublin, as Kerr will set out his stall to play for his favourite result - the draw, and Cisse and co will love tucking into our second rate defence, so the French will win. They could face more difficulty in Switzerland, against a side whose coach shows more ambition, and who will try to beat them.

It's a shame because on our day, we can beat any team anywhere, and we could if Kerr allowed the players to play to their strengths, and didn't let the quality, (or in some cases lack of it,) of the opposition dictate how we play against them.