Galactico Zidane digs heels in on France retirement

FRENCH World Cup winner and Real Madrid veteran Zinedine Zidane is sticking to his guns on retirement, both at club and international level, he said yesterday.

“I’ll certainly retire in 2007, though I don’t rule out it could maybe be earlier.

“I will take the decision when I believe the appropriate time has come,” said Zidane.

Les Bleus have struggled in the qualifiers for next year’s finals in Germany in Zidane’s absence but he ruled out pulling on the national shirt again.

“France will qualify. The situation is difficult but I am sure they will make it.

“My decision to quit international football is irreversible,” the 32-year-old insisted.

He added that “it hasn’t been a good season on a personal level”.

However, he said he would return motivated after the summer break to help the Spanish club giants to reassert themselves at home and in Europe after two seasons without silverware.