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Trezeguet ready to return for France
David Trezeguet is willing to come out of international retirement to help France in next month's World Cup playoffs, he said on Tuesday.
David Trezeguet is willing to come out of international retirement to help France in next month's World Cup playoffs, he said on Tuesday.
The 31-year-old Juventus striker, who helped Les Bleus lift the 1998 World Cup and scored the golden goal in the final of Euro 2000, had a strained relationship with coach Raymond Domenech and decided to quit the national team last year.
"World Cup qualification is at stake (in the playoffs)," Trezeguet said. "It could also be a positive experience for me, maybe my last one in the national team as I'm getting to an age that means it will be less likely after. "I am open to a callup. I'll never be able to forget what has happened but I think France's World Cup is more important now."
Domenech, whose side booked a playoff berth by beating Faroe Islands 5-0 on Saturday to ensure second place in Group Seven behind Serbia, left Trezeguet out of his squad for Euro 2008.
Lippi not ruling out Totti return
Rome: Italy coach Marcello Lippi is not ruling out calling up Francesco Totti after the AS Roma forward said he would be willing to come out of international retirement to play at next year's World Cup.
The 33-year-old took a break from the Azzurri after being part of Lippi's 2006 World Cup-winning team and subsequently made the move permanent, citing fitness problems.
"Totti is a great person and a great player," Lippi said. "I know there will be controversies (about selections) between now and June. I enjoy them, bring them on. I'm not excluding anything."
Totti, who has made a strong start to the season scoring six goals in Serie A, was quoted by Tuesday's La Gazzetta dello Sport as saying: "It depends on the coach's selections and how I am (physically). I owe him a lot."
Lippi suggested he had little doubt that Totti would come running if he called.
