Reuters

Makelele and Thuram bow out

Updated 14.06 Wed Jun 18 2008

Keywords: premier league, chelsea, estelle denis, raymond domenech, lilian thuram, claude makelele, euro 2008, france, football, sport

Veterans Claude Makelele and Lilian Thuram have announced they are retiring from international football.

Both players confirmed they would quit playing for France after the 2-0 defeat by Italy that knocked them out of Euro 2008.

"I have sweated for this shirt and it has brought me 100 per cent happiness" - Claude Makelele

Chelsea midfielder Makelele has won 71 caps, while Thuram has played 142 games for his country, more than any other French player in history.

Makelele said: "I always said this would be my final competition. I have no regrets about finishing now.

"Most of the decisions I have taken I have always taken 100 per cent.

"I have sweated for this shirt and it has brought me 100 per cent happiness, so there are no regrets. A new generation can take the reins and come together. I am totally with them."

Thuram may now bow out of football completely as he has been released by Barcelona.

He said: "This elimination is very difficult to take, it is even more difficult for me because it is my last match for France.

"As for my future, I would like to continue to play, but I don't know if a club wants me."

France coach Raymond Domenech proposed to his girlfriend Estelle Denis in a television interview immediately after the defeat by Italy.

She works for the television station M6 and in an interview on the channel, he said: "The only thing I am thinking of now is getting married to Estelle. I am asking her for her hand in marriage."

Domenech may be criticised for the proposal, because it almost certainly came after his last game as France coach.

He is widely expected to lose the job after failing to qualify for the quarter-finals of the European Championships with a squad that reached the 2006 World Cup final.

The France Football Federation will make an announcement on Domenech's future on July 3.

He explained: "Everyone was so sad and I thought to myself, 'Life has its beautiful moments'.

"You have to tell people you love them. In such difficult moments, you have to go to what's important. I wanted to show some emotion."