"Les performances individuelles, ce n’est pas le plus important. On gagne et on perd en équipe." "On a démontré qu'on avait un bon groupe et qu'on pouvait aller loin" Zinédine Zidane - spoken like a true captain, well worthy of the praise and the admiration he enjoys.French soccer fans are cheering their World Cup team and its captain, Zinedine Zidane. The player is one of the most admired public figures in France, and his Algerian background makes him an interesting symbol of unity in a country often torn apart by racial and ethnic tensions. Zidane, in a radio interview a few weeks back, impressed me enormously with his well-spoken but modest account of how sheer will power and determination has brought him from a poor disadvantaged background to the respected family man and successful sportsman he is today. He is not very comfortable being revered as a sports hero and role model, but nonetheless accepts the responsibility it brings. His work amongst the less priviledged, more particularly the beurs (Arab) and North African youth in the slum banlieu of big cities such as Marseilles and Paris is done quietly and efficiently, and one can be proud of this "Son of France"
Zinedine Yazid Zidane (Arabic: زين الدين زيدان -- Zin Al-Din Zidan) was born on June 23, 1972, and raised in La Castellane -- a housing estate in Marseille, France.Lovingly known as Zizou, he used to play for Real Madrid and will end his career after playing for the French national team in the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany -- on 25 April 2006, Zidane officially announced his decision to retire from both club and international football after the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Zidane is often considered to be the best footballer of his generation and one of the greatest footballers of all time. An elegant dribbler of the ball, his passing ability and perfect balance have made him one of the game's finest artists and the natural successor of France's Michel Platini.
After France experienced serious problems in attempting to qualify for the 2006 World Cup, Zidane announced on August 3, 2005 to come out of international retirement to make a comeback for Les Bleus. He stated on his official website: "I have gone back on my decision, one year after I said it was categorical." It turned out to be a change of mind which reaped wonderful benefits for the French team, for on the same day French teammate and Chelsea midfielder Claude Makélélé, who also quit the French team following Euro 2004, said he wanted to come out of international retirement, and the same week, Lilian Thuram announced he would come back as well. The trio made their competitive return in the 3-0 World Cup qualifier win against the Faroe Islands on September 3rd, and France would go on to win their qualifying group.However, on 25th April 2006, after an injury plagued season at Real Madrid, he announced that he would retire after representing France in the 2006 World Cup finals to be held in Germany. On May 27, 2006, Zidane earned his 100th cap for France with a 1-0 victory over Mexico at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on the outskirts on Paris. It was his last match in that stadium and he became only the fourth Frenchman after Marcel Desailly, Didier Deschamps and Lilian Thuram to earn a century of national caps. In the closing minutes of France's second match of the 2006 World Cup, Zidane was given a yellow card for running into a player late. As a result, he was suspended from the third and final match of the group stage. France nonetheless won that match against Togo 2-0, allowing Zidane to play in the 2006 World Cup Round of 16 against Spain.
Zizou is married to the lovely French/Spanish Veronique, and they have four gorgeous little sons.Last night, in an exciting Second Round knockout match in the FIFA 2006 World Cup, Zidane scored the third goal in France's 3-1 victory over Spain. This win booked Zidane and France's "old Blues" a date with Brazil in the Quarter Finals of the tournament.
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