Barthez wants to play in '06 World Cup
Published : Apr 09, 2005 00:00 IST
VETERAN goalkeeper Fabien Barthez wants to play in one more World Cup before retiring from soccer.
"I have an objective in mind," Barthez said at France's Clairefontaine training camp.
"I want 2006 to be my last World Cup — providing we qualify." He said he will retire from all soccer, not just the French team. Since making his debut for France in May 1994, Barthez has won 73 caps and helped Les Bleus win the 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championship.
Barthez made the announcement ahead of France's World Cup qualifiers against Switzerland and Israel. Several stars of France's tournament-winning teams, inclding Zinedine Zidane, Lilian Thuram, Marcel Desailly, Emmanuel Petit and Bixente Lizarazu, have already retired. Barthez said he had considered pulling out of the trip to Israel for security reasons before deciding to go. "I see everything that is happening there and it worries me enormously," Barthez said. Two years ago, France played Israel in a qualifier for the 2004 European Championship.