Zidane rejects return plea for Ireland clash

ZINEDINE ZIDANE, Lilian Thuram and Claude Makelele rejected a last-minute plea by France manager Raymond Domenech to rejoin the national team for the World Cup qualifier against Ireland.

One hour before naming his squad on Thursday, Domenech phoned each of the three, who went into international retirement after Euro 2004.

"I did everything to bring them back," he explained yesterday.

"I contacted them to see if there was any possibility they would return. But this time, it's all over."

Domenech continued: "I had a doubt. Let's say they were having second thoughts. I needed to be sure. I wanted to avoid a situation where, in three or four months, they might regret I didn't consult them one more time."

Juventus defender Thuram won 103 French caps and Real Madrid playmaker Zidane holds 97. Chelsea anchorman Makelele has 35 caps.

Meanwhile, the Faroe Islands have named a 19-strong squad for their World Cup qualification clashes with Cyprus and the Republic of Ireland.

The Faroes, who lost their opening two games to Switzerland and France, face Cyprus away on October 9 before travelling to Dublin for a first ever clash with Ireland on October 13.

Manager Henrik Larsen - a former European Championship winner with Denmark - has selected an unchanged squad. Six members currently play outside the Faroes League, while most of the squad come from domestic champions HB Torshavn.

FAROE ISLANDS (squad): Mikkelsen (Klakksvik), Knudsen (Runavik), B Johannesen (Torshavn), O Johannesen (Tvoroyri), Thorsteinsson (Torshavn), Olsen (Gota), Hansen (Horsens, Denmark), J Jacobsen (FREM, Denmark), Danielsen (Klakksvik), Johnsson (Akranes, Iceland), Benjaminsen (FRAM, Iceland), Lakjuni (Torshavn), Borg (Torshavn), R Jacobsen (Torshavn), Nielsen (Torshavn), Jorgensen (Coventry City, England), Frederiksberg (Skala), Petersen (B 36 Torshavn), Flotum (Fremad Amager, Denmark).