PARIS (Reuters) - France playmaker Zinedine Zidane announced Thursday that he was ending his international career after a 10-year spell with Les Bleus.
"My international career is over now," said the 32-year-old playmaker on his Web Site. "I called the coach yesterday to let him know I had made up my mind. I think it was the right time to say 'stop'. At least, it was the time for me to do so," he said.
France coach Raymond Domenech confirmed the news as he unveiled his squad for next week's friendly against Bosnia.
"Zidane will not play for France anymore. I'm sorry about it. I would have liked him to carry on. He thought he had to leave the place to young players," said Domenech.
Zidane has had a long and successful career with France, winning the 1998 World Cup and the 2000 European championship.
His retirement closes a glorious chapter in French soccer history with only goalkeeper Fabien Barthez remaining from the team that beat Brazil to become world champions in 1998.
Zidane's announcement came after defenders Lilian Thuram, Bixente Lizarazu and captain Marcel Desailly all called time on their international careers since the end of Euro 2004.
"This is the end of a story," Zidane said. "It's important to know when your time to go has come. Some players had done it in 2000 and in 2002. Others like me are doing it now."
The French number 10 who earned 93 caps and scored 26 goals for France said that he had been considering his international retirement for quite some time.
(piilota) Jos seuraat säännöllisesti vain joitakin keskustelualueita, voit lisätä ne suosikkikeskusteluihin klikkaamalla halutun palstan yläreunassa olevaa "lisää suosikkeihin" -linkkiä. (pauloaguia) (näytä kaikki vinkit)