France coach Raymond Domencech waited two months after Zidane's international retirement before phoning to ask about a comeback. Now the coach believes Zidane can lead the French again.

"I am convinced that the best page in his sporting history remains for him to write ¡ª winning a new World Cup with Les Bleus," Domenech said.

Zidane was supposed to do that in 2002. But he was injured in a warmup game against South Korea while still exhausted from a superb season with Real Madrid that was capped by a wonderful volley for a goal in the Champions League final.

Zidane questioned whether he should play. But coach Roger Lemerre, formerly coach of France's military soccer team, picked Zidane for the tuneup just five days before France's opener against Senegal.

After 38 minutes, Zidane limped off the field, clutching his thigh. He missed the following game (0-0 against Uruguay) and hopped around in vain while heavily taped in a 2-0 defeat to Denmark that sent the French home humiliated.

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