France's [Images] darling Zinedine Zidane [Images] decided after all that he could not let down the side he inspired for a decade.

The driving force behind a team that went from also-rans to world champions in 1998 and European champions in 2000, the gifted midfielder had depressed an entire nation by announcing a year ago he was retiring from international football.

On Wednesday, with France struggling to qualify for the 2006 World Cup, he changed his mind.

"France have given me so much that I want to help them," the 33-year-old said.

France were never the same without "Zizou" and French fans welcomed the news, which came as a surprise after the three-times World Player of the Year said on several occasions over the last few months he would not reconsider his decision.

"It's a brave decision because he is taking risks with his image," French Football Federation president Jean-Pierre Escalettes said.

"It shows how much he loves France. He's a great player and a great man."

Only with Zidane at his best were France the most dangerous side in the world.

DELICATE TURNS

The gifted number 10 suffered a thigh injury before the start of the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan [Images] and the defending champions went out in the first round without scoring a goal.

He showed flashes of brilliance during Euro 2004 but not enough for France to avoid another failure with a defeat by eventual champions Greece in the quarter-finals.

Without Zidane since then, they have looked ordinary and lie a disappointing fourth in their World Cup qualifying group behind Ireland, Switzerland [Images] and Israel.

Zidane's vision, effortless close control, delicate turns and ability to create space made him one of soccer's greatest ever players.

"He dominates the ball, he is a walking spectacle and he plays as if he had silk gloves on each foot," former Real Madrid [Images] great Alfredo Di Stefano has said of him.

That talent enabled Zidane, the son of Algerian immigrants, to live a life that most from his humble roots in the tough La Castellane district of Marseille could only dream about.

He began his career at Cannes [Images] before moving to Bordeaux but it was with Juventus that he made his mark. By the time he moved to Real Madrid in 2001, he was the world's most expensive player, costing around $66 million.

Voted European player of the year in 1998 and world player of the year in 1999, 2000 and 2003, he came second only to Michel Platini [Images] as France's most respected footballer.

RARELY ABSENT

After making his international debut in August 1994, scoring twice in 17 minutes in a 2-2 draw with the Czech Republic, he was rarely absent from the France line-up.

He arrived exhausted at Euro 96 where France were knocked out by the Czechs in the semi-finals.

It was a very different story, though, two years later at the World Cup on his home soil where he scored two first-half goals in France's 3-0 victory against Brazil [Images] in the final.

With a top-form Zizou, France went on to win the European championship in 2000.

Zidane, who made thousands weep for joy after the 1998 World Cup final, is a man of few words who is happy to let his football do the talking.

He is also respected for the money and time he discreetly spends for charity, especially in helping handicapped children.

Zidane, who has never forgotten his roots, will not mind being out of the limelight once his playing days are over.

For the moment, though, he wants to savour the last stretch of his glittering career.

"For the first time in my life, I am changing my mind on something very important," he said.

"I was on holiday and I realised that I did not have that much time left in football and I wanted to make the most of it."

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