Australia News
Zidane Set For Sydney Spectacular
ZINEDINE Zidane will travel to Australia with a star-studded international team to play an exhibition match in Sydney next month.
Zidane will be joined by former French team-mates Marcel Desailly and Robert Pires, as well as Danish international Jesper Olsen and Switzerland'sFlavio Celestini for the match at Sydney Football Stadium on June 1.World Cup-winning coach Aime Jacquet will manage the international side which will face an Australian team made up of players from the 1997 squad that narrowly missed out on the World Cup finals.
Frank Farina will coach the team that is expected to include Paul Okon, Tony Vidmar, Craig Foster and Stan Lazaridis.
Australian and Everton midfielder Tim Cahill, who is recovering from foot surgery in Sydney, said bringing Zidane to Australia was a massive coup.
"David Beckham was here (in Sydney) recently and he's one of the most iconic and marketable players in the world," Cahill said.
"But 'Zizou' is one of the biggest players in the world. He is poetry in motion, and so passionate about football."
"What a special opportunity this is for Australian kids to see him."
Zidane will also conduct a coaching clinic for youngsters at Sydney Football Stadium the day after the match on June 2.
Promoter Alain Barataud said that it was one of the key factors that convinced the French superstar to travel to Australia.
"Once he found out it was for kids, he said okay, no problem, and he is donating his services for free," Barataud said.
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