Pires unsurprised at cold shoulder

PARIS: Robert Pires says he has put France football behind him after being omitted by coach Raymond Domenech for the World Cup finals. The 32-year-old Pires, who left Arsenal to join Villarreal last week, said he was not surprised to miss his second consecutive World Cup. The midfielder was ruled out of the previous competition through injury. “I was expecting not be picked,” Pires told L’Equipe on Sunday. “In December, the coach asked me to be consistent. I think I have been. Today, Les Bleus are behind me though I’ll watch the World Cup games.”

Maradona at UNICEF match

LONDON: Diego Maradona turned the clock back 20 years to score against England once again, but singer Robbie Williams led his celebrity team to a 2-1 victory over a Rest of the World side in the UNICEF children’s charity match, ‘Soccer Aid’ in the run up to the World Cup finals. Maradona got on the scoresheet for the Rest of the World at Old Trafford thanks to a somewhat ironic penalty award.

Chinese clubs to tempt Zizou to play on

BEIJING: Zinedine Zidane has been offered the chance to extend his career in China, according to a report on the China Daily website on Sunday. The 33-year-old France and Real Madrid midfielder announced last month he would be hanging up his boots after the World Cup finals. Chinese Super League clubs Changchun Yatai and Beijing Guo’an, however, are hoping to tempt the Frenchman to postpone his retirement and say they have been in touch with his agents.