"RETIRED" MAKELELE CALL UP AGAIN

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France coach Raymond Domenech has included Claude Makelele in his squad for the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Scotland and the Faroe Islands next month.

Chelsea midfielder Makelele announced his international retirement following the World Cup final defeat to Italy but Domenech threatened to invoke a FIFA rule which means a domestic ban if the player refused to play.

Makelele's call-up for France's first two Euro 2008 qualifiers prompted a club-versus-country row in which Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho claimed the former Real Madrid man was being treated like a "slave".

After Domenech hit back, Makelele stepped in and tried to calm the situation by agreeing to play. He told French television station TPS: "My coach's (Mourinho) words are a bit too strong, he's probably gone too far.

"But I spoke with the French team coach (Domenech) and he believes I am still able to bring something extra to the team. "I don't blame him (Domenech) for anything and I will go back and play with France."

Squad: Gregory Coupet (Lyon), Mickael Landreau (Paris St Germain); Eric Abidal (Lyon), Jean-Alain Boumsong (Juventus), Francois Clerc (Lyon), Julien Escude (Sevilla), William Gallas (Arsenal), Willy Sagnol (Bayern Munich), Lilian Thuram (Barcelona); Alou Diarra (Lyon), Claude Makelele (Chelsea), Florent Malouda (Lyon), Jeremy Toulalan (Lyon), Patrick Vieira (Internazionale); Sidney Govou (Lyon), Thierry Henry (Arsenal), Franck Ribery (Marseille), Louis Saha (Manchester United), David Trezeguet (Juventus), Sylvain Wiltord (Lyon).

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Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho and France coach Raymond Domenech have reached agreement over the international future of Claude Makelele, the midfielder was quoted as saying on Saturday.

'The aim is to do all I can to help France qualify for Euro 2008 but I shall not go further,' Makelele told sports daily L'Equipe in an interview.

Mourinho accused Domenech of treating Makelele like a slave while France's coach said that according to FIFA rules he was entitled to pick the midfielder.

Makelele told L'Equipe that the two coaches had reached agreement after France defeated World champions Italy in their second Euro qualifier on September 6.

'When I went back to London after the game, I first talked to my coach (Mourinho) and then to the selector who gave me to understand that I had to change my decision to quit,' he said.

The Chelsea midfielder has been selected by Domenech for France's next Euro qualifiers.

Makelele said he expected to start against Scotland, who share the lead of Group B with France but hoped to be rested against the Faroe Islands.

'I think that, if we get a good result in Scotland, Domenech should give a chance to a younger player like Jeremy Toulalan,' he said. 'I'll talk to the coach about that. A turnover would be to his credit and it would be better for me.'