French stars Zinedine Zidane and Claude Makelele today announced that they are coming out of international retirement to help their country's flagging World Cup campaign.
Both players quit the national team after Euro 2004 when France were knocked out in the quarter-finals.
33-year-old Real Madrid midfielder Zidane said on his website that he will be available for selection in the friendly against the Ivory Coast on August 17.
"I am returning to the Blues," said the former World Footballer of the Year.
Zidane has played 93 times for the national team scoring 26 goals including two goals in the 1998 World Cup final win against Brazil.
He also played in the successful Euro 2000 team.
"I will be in Montpellier," said Zidane referring to the venue of the match with the Ivory Coast.
France, the World Cup winners in 1998, are currently fourth in Group 4 of the qualifying campaign for the 2006 finals, three points behind the Republic of Ireland who lead the group on 13 points.
Switzerland are second with 12 points with Israel in third spot on 11.
France's next World Cup qualifiers are against the Faroe Islands at home on September 3 and Brian Kerr's men in Lansdowne Road four days later.
