Zidane feels comfortable with France captaincy

France playmaker Zinedine Zidane said he is looking forward to wearing the captain's armband for the second game running in Wednesday's Euro 2004 qualifier against Israel in Palermo.

The softly-spoken Zidane was named as temporary captain against Malta on Saturday after Chelsea defender Marcel Desailly was left out because of poor form.

The Real Madrid midfielder has admitted that he does not like talking to an audience and has always been reluctant to attend news conferences or make public statements.

But after a 6-0 thrashing of Malta, in which Zidane scored twice to take his international tally to 21, he said: "The armband has not changed the way I usually am. I played the same way during the game and I'm feeling comfortable with the job.

"Before the game (against Malta) I talked to my team mates to warn them that we would have to be patient as the Maltese were going to play defensively."

"Scoring two goals brought back some good memories," he added. "The funny thing is that I scored again with a header."

Zidane had not hit a double for France since the 3-0 victory over Brazil in the 1998 World Cup final at the Stade de France.

French coach Jacques Santini was not surprised at how Zidane adapted to the captain's role.

"Zidane doesn't need to have the armband to be a great player," Santini said. "He never tried to avoid his duties and when he is in such shape, there is not much to say."