LONDON, 16 August 2005 — Zinedine Zidane is coming out of retirement for France and Ronaldo will be back with Brazil in a raft of international friendlies and World Cup qualifiers tomorrow.
The game’s top sides are all on friendly duty, with France playing Ivory Coast in Montpellier following days of national euphoria surrounding Zidane’s decision to don the blue jersey once again. Zidane, along with Lilian Thuram and Claude Makelele, has made the personal U-turn to help a struggling France side qualify for next year’s World Cup finals in Germany.
The symbol of France’s 1998 triumph, Zidane will be looking to make an early impact on a side who are unexpectedly trailing Ireland, Switzerland and Israel in Group Four.
Ronaldo returns to the Brazil line-up in Croatia after being rested for the Confederations Cup, which the world champions won at a canter two months ago in Germany.
Ronaldo’s current and future club team mates Roberto Carlos and Robinho, who joins Real Madrid later this month, are also in a side which will be without Ronaldinho.
The Barcelona playmaker has been left out by coach Carlos Alberto Parreira as he is suspended for their next qualifier against Chile on September 4. Other friendlies include another installment of the often bitter rivalry between the Netherlands and Germany in Rotterdam, Argentina’s game in Hungary, Italy’s trip to Ireland and an England game against Denmark in Copenhagen. World Cup qualifiers will meanwhile get underway on various continents.
Mexico, the CONCACAF zone leaders on 13 points, can take a big step closer to the finals by winning a tricky game at home to Costa Rica, who occupy the third and final guaranteed qualifying slot.
Though buoyed by some good displays at the Confederations Cup, Mexico will not underestimate the Costa Ricans after memorably losing 2-1 to them at the Azteca Stadium in the 2002 World Cup qualifiers.
The United States, second on 12 points, can keep the pressure on Mexico and further their own ambitions by beating Trinidad and Tobago. Guatemala host Panama in the other game.
In Europe, Slovakia have plenty at stake in Liechtenstein in Group Three as they try to stay three points ahead of the pursuing Russians, who have a game in hand.
Second in the standings behind Euro 2004 runners-up Portugal, Slovakia will expect to take all three points in Vaduz and hope Russia come unstuck in what is a trickier game in Latvia.
Romania may have no trouble beating Andorra in Group One, but they will stay third and still be two points adrift of second-placed Czech Republic after playing two games more.
For Asia, the four teams who have already qualified for the finals will meet each other with only pride at stake.
Saudi Arabia are defending a one-point lead over 2002 World Cup semifinalists South Korea in Group A. Kuwait need only a draw with Uzbekistan to reach an Asian playoff against Bahrain.
The picture is similar in Group B, where leaders Iran are a point clear of their hosts, Japan. Bahrain can afford to take it easy against North Korea, who they lead by four points.
The winner of the Asian playoff will play the fourth-placed team from the CONCACAF zone, currently Guatemala.
