Winners:
Zinedine Zidane, 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championship winner, has reversed his decision of a year ago to retire from international duty and has announced himself ready to play for FRANCE, which is in fourth place in its World Cup 2006 qualifying group behind Ireland (1st), Switzerland (2nd) and Israel (3rd). Also coming out international retirement for France is midfielder Claude Makelele.
Former U.S. youth national team defender ZAK WHITBREAD started at center back for Liverpool and went the full 90 minutes as the Champions League defending champion downed Lithuania's FBK Kaunas, 2-0, to advance, 5-1 on aggregate, to the final Champions League qualifying round. The Sun gave Whitbread's performance a rating of 6 (out of 10). The 21-year-old Texas native, who started three English League Cup and one FA Cup game last season, made one previous Champions League qualifying round appearance, as a sub, in July.
Losers:
The British press is reporting that one of England's top referees, GRAHAM POLL, is being investigated by the Professional Match Officials Game Board for allegedly getting drunk and climbing on cars while at a preseason referees' training camp.
GLASGOW CELTIC managed a 4-0 win over Slovakia's Artmedia Petrzalka on Tuesday but was still eliminated from the Champions League qualifying round, having lost the first leg, 5-0.