Zidane envisions farewell and trophy
(AP)
Updated: 2006-05-17 08:34

Zidane says his performances the last two years have been below par, an assessment that reflects more his colossal standards rather than the facts. While his hairline has thinned further, his talents have not diminished.

In January, he scored a stunning hat trick for Madrid against Sevilla, and followed with two against Espanyol in February.

"It's promising for the future," Zidane said at the time. "The important matches are coming."

Those begin in earnest on June 13 against Switzerland, followed by South Korea on June 18 and Togo on June 23 ¡ª when he celebrates his 34th birthday.

Before that, Zidane could join Didier Deschamps, Lilian Thuram and Marcel Desailly as the only men to play 100 times for France when Mexico visits on May 27.

While he wants to limit the chance of injury, Zidane is unlikely to resist the lure of playing at Stade de France one last time. Look for a goodbye wave to the fans who will never forget his two goals in the same stadium eight years ago.


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