Zidane and co back for France

Zinedine Zidane, Lilian Thuram and Chelsea midfielder Claude Makelele have made their expected return to France duty after coach Raymond Domenech named his squad for next week’s friendly with the Ivory Coast in Montpellier.

All three, along with Marcel Desailly and Bixente Lizarazu, retired after France’s disappointing Euro 2004 campaign but Zidane, Thuram and Makelele have agreed to return with France struggling to qualify for next year’s World Cup.

Zidane admitted earlier this week claimed he had been persuaded to return by a mysterious voice that spoke to him during the night but later angrily denied he had had a religious experience, saying the voice was his brother’s.

Newcastle defender Jean-Alain Boumsong, William Gallas of Chelsea, former Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira, Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse and Arsenal’s Thierry Henry are also included in the squad.