Zidane makes no difference, says Platini

MICHEL PLATINI claims that the return of Claude Makelele, Zinedine Zidane and Lilian Thuram has done little to improve the French national team.

Les Bleus have yet to secure qualification to the 2006 World Cup in Germany despite being the joint leaders of Group 4, along with Switzerland, following their 1-0 victory over the Republic of Ireland earlier this month.

The return of the influential trio since the friendly with Ivory Coast in August may have boosted the team’s morale but, according to Platini, they have not made the side any more competitive.

France’s golden generation achieved glory in 1998 when they won the World Cup on home soil before lifting the European Championship trophy two years later.

But they have struggled since and failed to get out of the group phase at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea, following that humiliation with defeat to Greece in the quarter-finals of Euro 2004.

“I said during Euro 2004 that the team was not good, and nothing since has made me think the contrary,” said Platini.

“At the moment we are postponing the inevitable. When (Patrick) Vieira, (Thierry) Henry, (David) Trezeguet retire after Zidane, Makelele, it’s going to be tough.”

Platini claims no one wants to criticise the current side because some players from the 1998 and 2000 campaigns are still playing in it.

But for the former Juventus and France legend no-one is above criticism.

“The guys I am talking about are untouchable, they won the World Cup, the European Championships and they deserved it,” he added.

“They were put on a pedestal.

“My generation might have achieved great things in terms of how we played but we did not win the World Cup.

“And as soon as someone dares criticise one of those guys people think we are jealous.

“It will keep being like that as long as there is a world champion playing.

“But once Vieira, Trezeguet and Henry have stopped playing, we will have the right to criticise again.”