The comeback kings.
By FIFAworldcup.com
The decision to retire from international football has to be one of the toughest decisions a player can make. However, right up there with it must be the decision to return to the international fold and risk all you have previously achieved. During Germany 2006 qualifying, quite a few players were persuaded to come out of retirement to help their countries' bids for a finals place. Read on as FIFAworldcup.com takes a closer look at some of these comeback kings, anxious to scale the heights of world football once more.
Zidane, leading France's old guard.
Perhaps the comeback with the greatest impact was that of French international Zinedine Zidane. His decision to return in August 2005, hugely significant in itself, also paved the way for Claude Makelele and Liliam Thuram to come out of retirement. At the time, Les Bleus were floundering in fourth place in Group 4 of the European Zone with a place at Germany 2006 by no means guaranteed. Moreover they were facing two tough away games, against the Republic of Ireland and Switzerland, two of their direct rivals for qualification.
Zidane had announced his decision to retire from international football on 12 August 2004 after the UEFA European Championship in Portugal. After struggling to find their rhythm in qualifying, France coach Raymond Domenech lobbied hard to convince the midfield maestro to have a rethink and eventually got him to commit. "A year ago I was categorical (about quitting), and now I don't want to be seen as a saviour. I am just responding to something, having thought things through on holiday. The France team has given me so much and I want to lend a hand," Zidane said on breaking the news.
He made his competitive return on 3 September in Lens in a comfortable 3-0 win over a modest Faroe Islands team. "His mere presence gave the entire group that something extra," said Thierry Henry. "With Zinedine, everything is easier," added William Gallas. The numbers would seem to prove his point. Since his return, France have garnered 83 per cent of the points in play – as opposed to 55 per cent in his absence. Les Bleus won in Ireland, drew in Switzerland and booked their place in Germany with a resounding 4-0 win over Cyprus, with the first goal fittingly scored by Zidane.
Figo, the icing on the Portuguese cake.
The circumstances surrounding Luis Figo's return to international football were somewhat different. In March of this year, Portugal salvaged a hard-earned point away to Slovakia, a result which left both sides tied at the top of Group 3 of the European Zone. Looking ahead, national coach Luiz Felipe Scolari knew that when the two sides met again three months hence, they would effectively be playing for a place in the finals. It was perhaps this realisation that led the Brazilian to try once more to convince his captain to reverse the decision he made to retire after EURO 2004.
Figo finally relented and announced his plans to return, just days before the make-or-break game with Slovakia. Fortunately, everything went to script. The veteran midfielder played very well, Portugal won 2-1 and marched on towards Germany 2006. "I'm not back to break records, but simply to help the team," Figo said after the win. Few doubt that the player's experience will be vital if Portugal are to figure strongly at next year's big event.
Recoba, marked by destiny.
While we will have to await the result of Uruguay's play-off with Australia to see if they reach the finals in Germany, their very presence in the play-offs owes much to Alvaro Recoba's winning goal against Argentina on the final matchday of the South American qualifiers. This from a player who, in emotive circumstances only eight months earlier, had turned his back on international football after his country’s 1-0 win over Paraguay.
"Things are not working out for me at the moment and, although I am reluctant to do it, I think the best thing is for me to stand aside," announced a visibly upset Recoba after being booed off that night at the Estadio Centenario.
Ironically, this was to be the Celeste's last win until Recoba returned to the fold in September. By then Uruguay had fallen to seventh in the table after four straight draws and were facing a visit from a Colombia side who, with two points more, had control of the all-important fifth spot. It was then that Jorge Fossati decided to recall El Chino. "I'm not coming back as some kind of saviour. You'll have to look to the heavens for that. All I can tell you is that I'm in good shape and playing well," Recoba said at the time.
Uruguay duly beat Colombia and then took a point in Ecuador to set up a must-win showdown with Argentina. This was Recoba's cue, and the Inter Milan midfielder redeemed himself in the eyes of ecstatic Celeste fans by firing his team into the play-offs for Germany 2006.
Latapy, ready for the final push.
Before finally acceding to requests from his association president Jack Warner and former colleague Dwight Yorke to play again for Trinidad and Tobago, Russell Latapy had twice previously declined calls for his return. The first plea came from former T&T coach Bertille St Clair, who invited him back at the outset of the qualifiers, with the second coming from his successor Leo Beenhakker immediately after he took charge.
So what made the revered Latapy change his mind last August? At 37, he surely had a lot more to lose than gain. "I was in the side that lost to the USA (in 1989) that put us out of the race for Italia 90. Now that we're so close again, I want to do my bit to see if we can qualify. Playing at a World Cup would be crowning glory in my career," the player said.
Latapy's return came in a home tie against Guatemala on 3 September this year and could not have been any more auspicious. His 48th-minute strike paved the way for T&T's 3-2 win, a result that proved decisive in their taking fourth place in the CONCACAF Zone and claiming a play-off berth against Bahrain.
Sami Al Jaber.
After his team's disappointing display at Korea/Japan 2002, Sami Al Jaber, a veteran of three FIFA World Cups, decided that the time was right to call time on his international career. All that changed, however, when Argentine Gabriel Calderon took over coaching duties in December 2004 and asked the player to rethink.
At 32, his love for the national team coupled with their rejuvenated form in the qualifiers convinced Al Jaber to accept the challenge. In his first game back on 9 February this year, the player made an immediate impact by scoring in the 1-1 draw with Uzbekistan. However, his most telling contribution would come on 8 June when, playing on home soil against the same opposition, he scored Saudi Arabia's opening two goals in the 3-0 win that would book their place at Germany 2006. As an added bonus, Al Jaber is set to join an exclusive group of players who have graced the final stages of a FIFA World Cup on four occasions.