Thuram and Makelele quit France team

ZURICH: Defender Lilian Thuram and midfielder Claude Makelele announced their international retirements after France was eliminated from Euro 2008 following its 2-0 loss to Italy on Tuesday.

The 36-year-old Thuram, who won a record 142 caps but did not play on Tuesday, was the only member of the Euro 2008 squad to have started the 3-0 final win over Brazil at the 1998 World Cup.

"That's the end of my career for France and of a very important part of my life," Thuram told reporters. "There's a lot of sadness."