|
By Julien Pretot VENDARGUES, France, Aug 15 - The return of
Zinedine Zidane, Lilian Thuram and Claude Makelele was triggered
by France's poor results in their World Cup qualifying campaign,
Arsenal striker Thierry Henry said on Monday. "The lack of results is the reason (for their return),"
Henry told reporters ahead of Les Bleus' friendly against Ivory
Coast in Montpellier on Wednesday. France are fourth in their European zone qualifying group
behind Ireland, Switzerland and Israel with one game in hand. However, Henry does not believe Zidane's return means the
young guns have failed in their task. "A whole team had to be re-built in a very short time, it
was not easy," he said. The Arsenal captain said Real Madrid's Zidane, Juventus's
Thuram and Chelsea's Makelele would bring their experience and
technical skills to the team as France gear up for their final
four qualifiers. "When Michael Jordan comes back in the NBA, he has his shirt
ready in the locker room. Same for Zizou," he said. "These three players will bring some stability in the big
games, as well as their technique," said Henry. Newcastle United defender Jean-Alain Boumsong said the
return of the old guard was logical. "They still play in their clubs so there is no problem if
they come back," he said. "If some players from the sixties had been called-up, it
would have been a repudiation for the new generation," he added
with a grin. "In this case, it's just logical." Henry said: "When you see what Lilian brings to Juventus,
and that Claude is considered as one of the best midfielders in
the world, there is nothing to say. As for Zizou..." "The essential is that we qualify, whoever plays," said
Monaco centre back Sebastien Squillaci, who looks set to lose
his place in the starting line-up with Thuram's return. "We cannot afford to have second thoughts," said Boumsong. "Those who start the campaign do not necessarily go to the
end of it," added Henry.
|
