After more than a year retired from the national team, Zinedine Zidane says his return is inspired by a desire to recapture the form that steered France to the top of international soccer.
Zidane and Claude Makelele announced their return to the French national team on Wednesday.
"I have got my motivation back," Zidane said on Canal Plus television in an interview Thursday. "I want to find my old level again. I want to win everything."
With the first of four crucial World Cup qualifying matches beginning in September, France is fourth in Group 4 and needs Zidane to help it qualify for next year's tournament in Germany.
France has 10 points from six matches, three points behind leader Ireland, two back from Switzerland and a further point behind Israel. Ireland and Israel have played an extra game.
"Even if it is hard to qualify, I want to remain positive," Zidane said. "I am convinced that the French team will be at the World Cup, very optimistic. We have no right to think otherwise."
Zidane is expected to make his comeback in a friendly match against Ivory Coast on Aug. 17 -- exactly 11 years after marking his France debut with two goals against the Czech Republic.
France striker Thierry Henry said the response to the 33-year-old midfielder's return has been similar to a religious fervor.
"It's a strong word what I'm going to say, but it's true," Henry said. "In France, for us, it's like they are realizing there is God somewhere because he's back."
He retired after last summer's European Championship, where France exited in the quarterfinals, and insisted he would never return.
However, time spent away with his family and talks with France coach Raymond Domenech persuaded him to change his mind.
"I went on holiday for 32 days and I thought it's not possible [to stay away]," Zidane said. "It was clear in my head and categorical a year ago. Today is a different matter, I want to come back."
Zidane also said he has "no doubt" that Lilian Thuram will also return. Juventus defender Thuram was one of several key players -- including Marcel Desailly and Bixente Lizarazu -- to retire last summer.
Zidane predicted that he and Thuram "will be in blue together at the [2006] World Cup."
Henry praised the effectiveness of Makelele's defensive role for Chelsea in last season's title triumph.
"Last year people didn't realize how precious Makelele was for Chelsea," Henry said. "You don't have a Makelele and maybe you don't have the same team."
Zidane scored two goals in the 3-0 World Cup final win over Brazil in 1998, starred in the 2000 European Championship win, and has scored 26 goals in 93 international appearances.
Luis Figo has agreed to join Inter Milan, ending a five-year spell at Real Madrid, news reports said Thursday.
Figo was expected to arrive in Milan Thursday evening and undergo medical examinations with Inter before the signing will be officially announced Friday, the ANSA news agency reported.
"I'm leaving to see if I can get a few games," Figo said.
Figo, whose contract with Madrid was to expire in June 2006, wanted a two-year contract comparable to the 6 million-euro deal he reportedly had at the Spanish club.
Reports indicated that Inter had signed him to a 7 million euros deal over two seasons and that the move did not include a transfer fee.
"I chose this club because it has the same desire to win that I have," Figo was quoted as saying in Thursday's Corriere della Sera. "I can't wait to start this new adventure.
"The only thing I'm sorry about is that there were too many intermediaries involved in these negotiations. It only required two days, yet it's gone on for two months."
The move makes Figo the third Madrid player Inter has signed this offseason, following Santiago Solari and Walter Samuel.
A former European and world player of the year, the 32-year-old Figo chose Inter over Champions League winner Liverpool, which also courted the Portugal star.
Madrid president Florentino Perez signed Figo from archrival Barcelona in 2000 to become the first of the team's "galacticos."
"I'll have time to say goodbye to the fans because they deserve it more than anyone," Figo was quoted as saying by Spain's sports daily Marca. "On Saturday, I'll give a press conference to say goodbye to them because I won't be able to say goodbye in a match."
Figo won two Spanish league titles, one Champions League title, one European Supercup and an Intercontinental Cup at Madrid. However, he fell out of favor under coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo, who left him out of the starting lineup for Madrid's final eight league games last season.
Inter is seeking its first Italian league title since 1989. Every other top Italian club has won at least one title since then.
Inter did not sign Figo in time for him to play against Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine in Champions League qualifying on Aug. 10 and 24. Teams had to hand in their Champions League rosters Thursday and Figo's name was not included on Inter's list.
His debut will likely come in the Italian Supercup versus Juventus on Aug. 20.
Phil Neville, who had spent his entire career at Manchester United, left Old Trafford on Thursday to sign a five-year contract with Everton.
The 28-year-old defender had struggled to keep a starting place at Manchester United, where his brother, Gary, is still a regular first-team player.
"This has been the most difficult decision I have ever had to make," Phil Neville said on Manchester United's Web site. "But I am excited about joining Everton and relishing my next challenge in football.''
Neville began as a schoolboy at Manchester United and joined as a trainee in July 1993. He played 386 times for the senior side.
Neville joined Everton for a reported transfer fee of ?3.5 million (5 million euros), and is now set to face his old teammates on the opening day of the Premier League season.
"I've spent 18 years of my life at the club and I would like to thank Sir Alex [Ferguson], all the players and the fans for their great support," he said. "I am now going to give the same commitment to Everton, David Moyes and the Everton fans. I can't wait for the new season to get started."
Neville could make his debut next Tuesday against Villarreal in the first leg of the Champions League third-round qualifier.
"This was not a decision we wanted to make, but every time I picked the team and Phil's name was not on the teamsheet, it was very difficult for me," Ferguson said. "You couldn't meet a better professional."
Moyes said he sees Neville primarily as a holding midfielder but that he's versatile enough to fill other roles.
"Phil is a quality footballer who will, I feel certain, improve and enhance the squad we are putting together," Moyes said.
"He is very much a professional's professional."
Leeds canceled Seth Johnson's contract Friday with 11 months remaining, freeing the midfielder to join another club.
Johnson joined Leeds from Derby in October 2001 for ?7.75 million (11.2 million euros), one of a string of signings that contributed to the club reporting debts of ?100 million two years ago. Leeds was paying Johnson ?35,000 a week.
The club shed its highest earning and most valuable players and was relegated from the Premier League to the Football League Championship in May 2004. It cleared its debt last month.
The 26-year-old Johnson played 59 games for Leeds, but hadn't been picked since April because Leeds would have had to pay Derby a ?250,000 bonus had he made 60 appearances.
He struggled with injuries and form in four years at Leeds and played just six games last season. He played once for England -- as a substitute in a friendly against Italy in 2000.
Germany defender Philipp Lahm's contract was extended Thursday for two years through to 2009.
Bayern gave the 21-year-old an improved deal after he developed into one of the country's top players while on loan at VfB Stuttgart. He was called back to Munich for this season.
"This is a huge sign of faith in an injured player," Lahm said.
Lahm is not expected to play for Bayern until the start of 2006 after suffering a ligament tear.
Bologna on Thursday advanced past Empoli to reach their first Coppa Italia final in more than half a century. Thijs Dallinga’s 87th-minute header earned Bologna a 2-1 win and his side advanced 5-1 on aggregate. Giovanni Fabbian opened the scoring for Bologna with a header seven minutes in. Then Viktor Kovalenko equalized for Empoli in the 30th minute by turning in a rebound to finish off a counterattack. Bologna won the first leg 3-0. In the May 14 final in Rome, Bologna are to face AC Milan, who eliminated city rivals Inter 4-1 on aggregate following a 3-0 win on Wednesday. Bologna last reached the
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