France must forget past heroes like Zidane, says Sagnol

Defender Willy Sagnol says France must forget players like Zinedine Zidane if they want to qualify for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

World champions Zidane, Marcel Desailly, Lilian Thuram and Bixente Lizarazu all announced their international retirement after their Euro 2004 quarter final exit against eventual champions Greece.

"I don't think of them anymore, I don't care about them anymore", Bayern Munich right back Sagnol told sports daily L'Equipe on Saturday.

"If every time we are in trouble everybody brings their names up, France will never make it to the World Cup," said Sagnol, who could return for France against Poland in a friendly on November 17 after a three month injury layoff.

"Let's talk about those who play for France to qualify. The others have left, we have to put them aside."

Sagnol also asked the veterans in the squad to help the young players.

"I have the feeling there is no more hierarchy. I don't have the impression the 'old ones' are still leaders for the 'young ones'," he said without elaborating.

France won the 1998 World Cup on home soil and the European championship two years later but are going through a period of transition following the international retirement of many of the players that brought them their double success.