Zidane hangs up his international boots

FRANCE coach Raymond Domenech yesterday 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.

Domenech said: “Zidane stops his international career here. I regret it very much because I would have liked him to continue.”

Meanwhile Jose Antonio Reyes has won a recall from Spain, as new coach Luis Aragones included the forward in his squad for next week’s friendly against Venezuela.