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France: Duty calls for returning Lilian Thuram [Wed Aug 31st, 2005]
Clairefontaine (Reuters) - Lilian Thuram was dismayed when coach Raymond Domenech picked him to play against Ivory Coast earlier this month, though he put duty first and complied with the callup.
The 33-year-old defender had not planned to play any more international football after France's failure at the 2004 European Championship, and had quit Les Bleus along with Zinedine Zidane and Claude Makelele.
When Domenech put him on his list for an international friendly, Thuram said he was confused. "I had no intention of returning for France and he knew it," Thuram told a news conference at France's training camp.
"I didn't like it but I'm not the kind of character to snub an international call-up," he said. "So I went and I tried to do my best."
The most capped player of the squad, with 104 appearances for his country, said he did not feel comfortable at first and wondered what he had got himself into.
THIGH INJURY
Thuram had to come off early with a thigh injury during the 3-0 defeat of Ivory Coast in Montpellier, France's best result in over a year.
"I strained a muscle... The injury didn't surprised me. It certainly had something to do with my mental state at that time. I was not in a good shape psychologically, as I had the feeling that my preference had not been respected by the coach."
Thuram has changed his mind, however, and no longer feels angry.
"When I think about it now, I'm happy. Actually, it's good to be here at Clairefontaine," he said. "I have some great memories from here.
Zidane and Makelele have also returned to the fold so Thuram is surrounded by old friends.
"I also realised that France still needed me. The team is in a tough situation, though nothing is finished yet."
France are preparing World Cup qualifiers on Saturday and next Wednesday against the Faroe Islands and Ireland in European zone Group Four.
With four matches to play, they are an unaccustomed fourth in the group, trailing leaders Ireland by three points with Switzerland second and Israel third.
"There is another challenge to take on now. It's to qualify for the World Cup finals. I'm almost 34 but as long as I'm a player I'll try to help them out."
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