French duo end international duty

Makelele won 71 caps for France

Midfielder Claude Makelele and Lilian Thuram have announced their retirement from international football after France exited Euro 2008.

The decisions of the 35-year-old Makelele and the 36-year-old Thuram followed France's 2-0 defeat by Italy.

Chelsea midfielder Makelele made his debut for France in 1995, winning 71 caps, but he did not feature in their World Cup or Euro 2000-winning teams.

Thuram is France's record-caps holder after playing 142 times for les Bleus.

The Barcelona defender won the World Cup in 1998 and Euro 2000, while Makelele played in the France side which lost the 2006 World Cup final to Italy.

606: DEBATE This is the end for what was a great national team SDV9

Makelele said: "This tournament was my last. To have been allowed to wear France's colours, that's my trophy."

The Chelsea midfielder had said he intended to retire after the World Cup tournament in Germany in 2006, but France coach Raymond Domenech refused to acknowledge the midfielder's wishes.

Instead he continued to select Makelele for France, prompting then Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho to accuse Domenech of treating Makelele "like a slave".

Advertisement

Desailly calls for new French generation