The football world stood still on August 3, 2005. At around 4 p.m., Zinedine Zidane’s personal website displayed a message that seemed unthinkable: the French maestro was ending his international retirement. "I have decided to come back to Les Bleus," the statement read. "I have thought hard and I want to help the French team." It was a stunning reversal for a player who had repeatedly sworn he would never pull on the blue shirt again after walking away following France’s disappointing Euro 2004 campaign.
Zidane’s initial farewell had come on the back of a painful 1-0 quarterfinal defeat to eventual champions Greece. At 32, the Real Madrid star felt his international chapter was closed. He had achieved everything, including the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 titles, and the group-stage exit at the 2002 World Cup had already tested his resolve. Yet just 13 months after quitting, he was back, setting the stage for one of the most dramatic final acts in football history.
What prompted this sudden change of heart? In later interviews, Zidane hinted at a near-mystical experience. "What is happening to me is quite mystical," he would say, referring to a mysterious inner voice that urged him to return. This almost spiritual calling became a defining narrative element of his comeback, one that L’Équipe’s documentary series "9 juillet 2006" dissects with fresh perspective.
The timing was crucial. France were struggling in their 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign under coach Raymond Domenech. Stuck in a group with Switzerland, Ireland, and Israel, Les Bleus lacked creativity and leadership. Zidane’s return, alongside fellow veterans Lilian Thuram and Claude Makélélé who also reversed their retirements, injected immediate belief. The move transformed the team’s dynamics both on and off the pitch.
Zidane’s first game back was a friendly against Ivory Coast on August 17, 2005, where he scored the opening goal. The real test came in the qualifiers. On September 3, he helped the team secure a vital 3-0 win over the Faroe Islands, providing two assists. France eventually clawed their way to direct qualification, topping the group on the final matchday with a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Cyprus, Zidane scoring once.
The 2006 World Cup in Germany became a redemption arc for the aging golden generation. Written off by many before the tournament, France navigated the group stage cautiously, then hit their stride in the knockout rounds. Zidane turned back the clock with a masterful performance against Brazil in the quarterfinals, setting up Thierry Henry’s winner. A semifinal win over Portugal on a Zidane penalty sent Les Bleus to the final against Italy.
Of course, the final is remembered for far more than just football. Zidane opened the scoring with an audacious Panenka penalty, but the match is forever etched into collective memory for his 110th-minute headbutt on Marco Materazzi and subsequent red card. It was a stunning end to an illustrious career, and the documentary promises to unpack the cultural impact of that moment and the entire journey that led there.
L’Équipe’s "9 juillet 2006" revisits the full arc, starting from that fateful August day in 2005. Through 30 video episodes, the series explores how Zidane’s return reshaped the French team and captivated a nation. It places the decision in the broader context of his career and the societal resonance of the 2006 World Cup final.
For fans who lived through that era, Zidane’s comeback remains a testament to the unpredictable power of sport. A mysterious voice, a website announcement, and a last dance that almost ended in ultimate glory—it is a story that continues to fascinate nearly two decades on. Based on reporting from L'Equipe.