France midfielder Claude Makelele has announced his retirement from international football.
The 31-year-old said he wanted to focus on his club career with Chelsea.
"I shall be 33 in 2006. It's time to give way to the young generation of players like Benoit Pedretti," he told French newspaper L'Equipe.
"They need experience before the next World Cup. My future is with Chelsea," added Makelele, who has been an ever-present for his club this season.
Makelele was called up by new coach Raymond Domenech for the recent World Cup qualifiers, but he did not play in the second game against the Faroe Islands.
"I think that a player like me can not afford to answer international calls if he is not going to play," he said.
"I felt it was my duty to be part of the first two games after our Euro 2004 failure but I had already decided to quit.
"I wanted to talk to Domenech looking into each other's eyes. We know each other well and he understood my situation."
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