Zinezine Zidane ready to help scupper England's World Cup hopes
Published 23:00 22/12/09 By Neil McLeman
Zinedine Zidane is ready to help England’s Group C opponents Algeria at the World Cup.
The former France star, whose parents both come from the North African country, was sent off in disgrace in the 2006 final in Berlin.
But now the 1998 World Cup winner, 37, wants to see the Desert Foxes get past the group stage in Africa’s first World Cup next summer.
When asked by France Football if he would lend his experience to Algerian head coach Rabah Saadane in the build-up to South Africa, Zidane said: “Maybe it has already been done.
"There are things that I want to do about which I don’t want to speak publicly. That stays between me and those involved, the players, some of whom I already know. That doesn’t mean either that I will do something with them. It is my own business.
“I am very happy (they will go to the World Cup). The Algerians really deserved their qualification. I have not seen Algeria play in this style for a long time. Now, it is all a bonus. They can go to South Africa without pressure.
“It was not possible to play for Algeria. But like Olympique Marseille, Algeria has always been in my heart. They (France and Algeria) are the two teams that I have always supported and that I want to see win.”
And making their first World Cup appearance since 1986, the Frenchman believes Algeria can make the second round.
“If they win the first game against Slovenia, yes,” he said. “After that, there will be England and so it could all be to play for against the United States. There have a lot of quality players. A World Cup can lift a player to a different level. In 2006, I was at the end of my career with Real Madrid and I played a great World Cup.”
But Zidane, now an advisor to Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, added: “Spain and Brazil are above everyone.”
