Makelele retires from Les Bleus - again

France midfielder Claude Makelele has retired from international football in the wake of the World Cup final defeat to Italy.

The Chelsea player, who quit Les Bleus in 2004 only to return to the national side a year later, announced his decision on the balcony of the Hotel Crillon in Paris where fans were greeting the defeated team, according to the L'Equipe website.

The 33-year-old quits the day after team-mate Zinedine Zidane ended his playing career in the final, when he was sent off.

The future of Lilian Thuram, another who had to be persuaded back from retirement last year, and Fabien Barthez is also uncertain.