Courtesy: UEFA.com

Zidane sets comeback date

Thursday, 8 February 2007

Zinédine Zidane is to come out of retirement to star in a futsal tournament in France that will help promote the small-sided sport in the country as well as raise funds for former players in need.

Famous names
The 34-year-old former Juventus and Real Madrid CF playmaker, who hung up his boots after last summer's FIFA World Cup final, will line up in a five-hour futsal extravaganza on 25 March with other members of the 1998 World Cup-winning squad. The matches will be played at the Palais Omnisport de Paris-Bercy and sell-out crowds are expected to watch the the likes of former internationals Jean-Pierre Papin and Manuel Amoros, and foreign stars such as Raí and Leonardo.

Centre stage
The event has been organised by Henri Emile, a former team manager with Les Bleus who works to promote futsal for the French Football Federation. He said: "This tournament in Bercy offers the opportunity to put futsal in the spotlight. We're late compared to other countries but something is happening and it's important to introduce the sport to people because it's based on fun and love of the game."

EURO goal
The France side due to compete in the 2007 UEFA European Futsal Championship qualifying round later this month will also take part. Les Bleus, who have participated in all four previous editions, won their first EURO game at the 12th time of asking when defeating Israel 3-2 in the 2004/05 championship. They will hope to build on that in this year's competition but face three tough tests.

Hosts first
The team, coached by Pierre Jacky, have been drawn in the Group A mini-tournament hosted by Italy and which also features the ever-dangerous Belarus and debutants Turkey. They will start against the Azzurri on 23 February before taking on Belarus and Turkey on 24 and 26 February respectively. The section winners will advance to the eight-nation finals to be played in Porto, Portugal this November.



Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com