http://www.as.com/articulo.html?xref=20040811dasdasftb_4&anchor=dasftb&type=Tes&d_date=20040811

ZIDANE DEJARÁ LA SELECCIÓN, SEGÚN "L'EQUIPE"

El centrocampista del Madrid ha confirmado recientemente su decisión a sus allegados, tras entrevistarse el pasado miércoles con el seleccionador francés, Raymond Domenech, según el rotativo.

HIZO HISTORIA. El astro francés del Real Madrid lideró a la Francia que se proclamó campeona del Mundo y de Europa en 1998 y 2000.

Zinedine Zidane no volverá a jugar con la selección francesa, una noticia que, tras semanas de incertidumbre, anunciará el propio jugador en los próximas días, informó "L'Equipe".

El anuncio, que despejará los interrogantes que han llevado de cabeza al equipo nacional, pero también a la prensa y a la afición francesa, lo hará público Zidane en su página web en los próximos días.

Tras su encuentro con Domenech, el jugador declaró que iba a "darse una o dos semanas" para hacer sus cábalas acerca de su futuro como internacional y, en cualquier caso, aseguró que "era una obligación" anunciar su decisión antes del partido de Francia-Israel, el próximo 4 de septiembre.

El fracaso de los "bleus" en la Eurocopa de Portugal, en la que cayeron eliminados en cuartos de final, y las sucesivas partidas de sus compañeros Marcel Desailly, Lilian Thuram y Bixente Lizarazu habrían sido decisivos para Zidane a la hora de tomar su decisión.

En contrapartida, las presiones del seleccionador, de la opinión pública y de la prensa francesa para que no colgara la camiseta habrían resultado en vano para que el que es considerado como personaje favorito de los franceses diera marcha atrás.

Zidane pondrá punto y final a su carrera como internacional, tras diez años con los "bleus", 93 partidos y 26 goles.



---------------------------


I heard it on the radio and so far I have only gathered this news piece from As but it seems like it's true.

Zidane will not wear the french colours again and will retire from international football :(


It seems he will announce the decision in one or two weeks in the newspaper L'Equipe

Big loss for internationa football, he still had much to give until the WC2006

I guess everyone has got its time to go, and I also think it's his. France needs fresh blood.

Anyways, Zidane deserves all our biggest compliments and thankings, since not only the french, but everyone, needs to thank him for those entertaining moments he gave us. And they were many.

Thank you Zizou (Y)

Sh*t! :(

it seems after euro04, a lot of players r retiring...:confused:

Zidane = Legend :Bow: :Bow: :Bow: :Bow: :Bow: :Bow:

After Deschamps and Blanc in 2000, Desailly, Thuram and Lizarazu this year, and maybe Zidane, France begins a new "cycle". The decision of Zidane isn't official, he'll talk about his future in France NT tonight a 8 pm french hour.
76% of all French people want to Zidane stays in NT...
Kopa and Platini retired when they were 31, Zidane 32.
He made so many beautiful things for us, in WC 1998 or in Euro 2000.

So, I'm careful of this news, especially when it's "L'Equipe" who say that. He's not (yet) retiring, we'll know tonight.

well every site here even in holland report that he stopped his international career so I think it's quite sure.

Too bad for France, I predict they won't win another World Cup again.*

*At least not in any of our lifetimes.

It is very sad to see a player of his skill retire, but he has a World Cup, Euro, and a couple of league titles.

Originally posted by kwan0023
It is very sad to see a player of his skill retire, but he has a World Cup, Euro, and a couple of league titles.

I think he has almost everything. He has been a key player for France. W e will miss him dearly in the Blue of France.

Originally posted by Zlatan
well every site here even in holland report that he stopped his international career so I think it's quite sure.

Yeah, all the sites in France say the same thing, it will be official tonight.
France don't have to replace him with a player who want to do something like Zidane. It could be good for guys like Henry who will probably be the new Superstar of France NT. We'll see.
Maybe Zidane will not play the WC Eliminatories, and play the tournament like the coach of the team would like to do.

Goodbye, Zizou.

Zidane 2 England 1. (H)

:( Zidane is gone! He anounced his decision today (Thursday). It`s really sad to see him walk from International Football as I was watching him play since I was a little kid. I personaly think that the retirement policy sucks. I would give them an ultimatum. If you want to retire from a national team, you also have to retire from a club team. But whatever. I really don`t know who will replace Zidane. France is in big trouble. Zidane was their man. He made the decisions. He made the passes, the dribbles absolutely everything. But we can still enjoy watching him play with Real for couple more years.

Originally posted by diggi 10
:( Zidane is gone! He anounced his decision today (Thursday). It`s really sad to see him walk from International Football as I was watching him play since I was a little kid. I personaly think that the retirement policy sucks. I would give them an ultimatum. If you want to retire from a national team, you also have to retire from a club team. But whatever. I really don`t know who will replace Zidane. France is in big trouble. Zidane was their man. He made the decisions. He made the passes, the dribbles absolutely everything. But we can still enjoy watching him play with Real for couple more years.

In 1987 when Michel Platini retired, we asked the same questions.. He scored 41 goals for France, he always qualifying us for WC or Euro... And Zidane was picked-up for the first time in 1994, he scored 2 goal for his first match against Czech Republic. So I think that the real substitue of Zidane isn't known yet, but in France NT, there still are guys like Henry, Giuly, Pires, maybe Micoud... Henry was always in the shadow of Zidane, now he has to be THE star of the team. He can.

it would have been nice to see him have one more huge internationalperformance before he leaves....... but i guess if he feels he should go, then so be it....

the player that i love most since i like football. goodbye zizou. i will not forget his famous 360....goodbye legend. :Bow:

Zidane quits international football


France coach Raymond Domenech has confirmed Zinedine Zidane has retired from international football. The 32-year-old Real Madrid playmaker follows in the footsteps of former captain Marcel Desailly, and defenders Lilian Thuram and Bixente Lizarazu, who announced their decision to quit internationals following Euro 2004 this summer. The decision of Zidane and company to hang up their boots marks the end of a glorious era in French football which saw Les Bleus win both the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 in an unprecedented spell of success for the country. Domenech said: 'Zidane stops his international career here. I regret it very much because I would have liked him to continue but he had already decided about it. 'He thought about it but now I need to deal with that and would like him to help the young players.'
Squad:


Goalkeepers: Fabien Barthez (Olympique Marseille), Gregory Coupet (Olympique Lyon)

Defenders: Eric Abidal (Olympique Lyon), Jean-Alain Boumsong (Rangers, Scotland), Patrice Evra (AS Monaco), William Gallas (Chelsea, England), Gael Givet (AS Monaco), Bernard Mendy (Paris St Germain), Anthony Reveillere (Olympique Lyon), Sebastien Squillaci (AS Monaco)

Midfielders: Alou Diarra (Racing Lens), Rio-Antonio Mavuba (Girondins Bordeaux), Benoit Pedretti (Olympique Marseille), Robert Pires (Arsenal, England), Jerome Rothen (Paris St Germain), Patrick Vieira (Arsenal, England)

Forwards: Djibril Cisse (Liverpool, England), Pierre-Alain Frau (Olympique Lyon), Sydney Govou (Olympique Lyon), Thierry Henry (Arsenal, England), Peguy Luyindula (Olympique Marseille)

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=306855&cc=4716

Who can possibly replace Zidane? Perhaps Domenach will try using a new formation, one where Pires and Wiltord can both play in the middle with Henry and Trezeguet upfront.

It sad Les Blues wont be the same without Zizou magic the news is comfirm in his web site www.zidane.fr

Zidane was the most amazing player ive ever watched. Its sad to see him retire from the NT, but atleast we'll see him some more on club level. hes just a fantastic player.

bad news, zidane is pure magic.

An absolute class player, the national team will definently miss his services.

thats great news for a Brazilian Madrid supporter....its the best!

but it is sad that the magician will be hanging up his wand....

ah the 98 french nt fantastic era is almost extinct :(

Benoît Pedretti, the kid will be special.

Lets hope he'll do a better job in Madrid now !!!

I'd say Dhorasso has the potential to take over....

shez

I wasn`t born yet when Beckenbauer, Cruyff, Charlton played . . .

I was way too young to remember Maradona during his prime . . .

But I`m lucky enough to see Zizou play before I die . . . One of the best player in the 20th century.

****in` genius . . . :rockman:

Originally posted by SB9Dragon
Who can possibly replace Zidane?

No one can mate. He is one of a kind.

i can

One of the best players of his generation is gone, one of the best in the last 20 years, Its a shame to see him go. My dad always tells me that the best goal he ever saw in person was one by Zidane, hes a real class player and its saw to see him go, even after he scored 2 against England.

But I`m lucky enough to see Zizou play before I die . . . One of the best player in the 20th century.

Well put!

big loss to France.

He's the player of this generation.

Maybe this will keep him going for Real Madrid for 3-4 more years.

Yep, this is real life, and we should all be happy for him. I wonder what he`ll do when he retires from football completely. Maybe become a coach or something.

I was also sad when Dugarry, Jorkaeff, and Dechamps left.

Zidane admits he didn't want to play in EURO

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=306883&cc=5901

Originally posted by Rochester Rhino
Zidane admits he didn't want to play in EURO

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=306883&cc=5901

hah, and even then, he was the only one to try and do something on the field.

http://zidanefr.free.fr/photo_dedicac2.jpg http://zidanefr.free.fr/259.jpg http://zidanefr.free.fr/zaward.jpg


FRANCE
Coupe du monde > 1998
Championnat d'Europe des Nations > 2000


ITALY
Supercoupe d'Europe > 1996
Coupe intercontinentale > 1996
Champion d'Italie > 1997
Supercoupe d'Italie > 1997
Champion d'Italie > 1998


SPAIN
Supercoupe d'Espagne > 2001
Ligue des Champions > 2002
Supercoupe d'Europe > 2002
Coupe intercontinentale > 2002
Champion d'Espagne > 2003


INDIVIDUAL
Ballon d'Or > 1998
Elu Joueur De L'année par le FIFA > 1998
Elu Joueur De L'année par le FIFA > 2000
Elu Joueur plus précieux par l'UEFA > 2002
Elu Joueur De L'année par le FIFA > 2003



HIS CLUB

US Saint-Henri
Sport Olympique de Septème
AS Cannes (1986-1992)
Girondins de Bordeaux (1992-1996) (H)
Juventus de Turin (Italie, 1996-2001)
Real Madrid (Espagne, depuis 2001)



HIS SITE :

http://www.zidane.fr/ (http://)



Goal's Zidane :

http://www.soccerclips.net/zidane.htm

Zidane is the greatest French player of all time !

Originally posted by chatterbox
Zidane is the greatest French player of all time !

French, how about European

Originally posted by Rochester Rhino
French, how about European

how about around the world? i believe he is one of the best player in the world.

Originally posted by chatterbox
Zidane is the greatest French player of all time !


No, no hes not. Platini is.


Zidane is right up there though with the greats. No denying that.

Yeah, It is so hard to compare Platini and Zidane.

I think that Zidane is better-skilled but he had more talented players on his NT than did Platini.

Both are greatness.

J. Cryuff and Franz B. are the greatest Europeans of all-time. ;)

New France coach left Mexes out of his roster. He should be shot in the foot, :kader:

... Trezeguet was also left out of the squad, but after his WC 2002 and Euro 2004 displays, i can see why

Originally posted by IceBlu
No, no hes not. Platini is.


Zidane is right up there though with the greats. No denying that.

I agree. Platini scored 41 goals for France NT, gave us Euro 1984 and always qualified us to WC. We can't compare those 2 players. Zidane is maybe more technical, a real playmaker, than Platini is an attacker and a lot of time striker... So.

Zidane is really known since his 2 goals in WC 98 Final, before that it was Youri Djorkaeff who was considered like the best french player between 1994 and 1998.

And for Mexès, he's not in the roster because he's playing in Italy and all of the players who are playing in Italy aren't in the roster because Serie A will begin in september. Trezeguet, Dacourt, maybe Dabo or Frey...

Originally posted by ngyc
how about around the world? i believe he is one of the best player in the world.

the best player I've ever seen play for sure. so begins a new era for French football.