The three-time World Footballer of the Year, who will turn 32 on June 23, has become used to collecting major trophies on a regular basis since he became established as one of the best players in the world for club and country in the late 90's.

But Real Madrid's late season slump that saw them lose to Monaco in the Champions League quarter-finals and drop out of the title race after five successive defeats -- the worst run in their 102-year history -- left Zizou frustrated.

Since Les Bleus won the 1998 World Cup on home soil the only year that Zidane has failed to collect a winners' medal was when his club Juventus finished the following season empty handed.

With pundits expecting a spate of retirements amongst the old guard in the France squad at some point after Euro 2004, possibly even including Zidane himself, this could be the last chance for the seasoned players to go out in a blaze of glory.

"You can't get bored of winning," Zidane said last week as France were making final preparations at their Clairefontaine training base as they bid to defend their European title.

"You can win 10 games in a row but you keep the same will to snatch the 11th. You always need more."

Zidane said he was relieved the season with Madrid was over as the last few weeks of the campaign were mentally tiring.

FRUSTRATING

"I felt like there would be no end to this period of time. We were losing and we didn't know what to do to change the situation. It was rather frustrating," he said at the time.

"I'm certainly playing my worst football of the last five years," he added.

The world's most expensive player -- Zizou cost Madrid almost $65 million when he arrived from Juventus in 2001 -- was suspended for the final match of the Spanish league season and after their struggles he seemed perfectly happy about it.

After a troublesome season in Madrid the normally shy Zidane was clearly glad to turn his attention to international football and appeared smiling, relaxed and eager to talk during the week France spent at the La Grande Motte seaside resort last month.

Asked about his fitness and mood, the French number 10 said he was feeling much better as the challenge of the Euro 2004 finals in Portugal loomed.

"I'm now 32 years old and certainly at the top of my career," he said. "I feel like I'm at my best. I'm fit and ready."

It was the news coach Jacques Santini expected to hear despite his oft-repeated line that France have learned to play without the jewel in their crown.

FAVOURITES

"We won't deny that we're one of the favourites for this tournament," Zidane said. "But it doesn't bother us. There are others and we are going to play our part. We will go to Portugal to win the title."

Since he was picked by former national coach Aime Jacquet in 1994, Zidane has become the cornerstone of the French team and international matches without him are never the same.

His absence with a thigh injury from the first two games of the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan weighed heavily on France during their shock first-round exit after the worst performance by the holders in the tournament's history.

But when Zizou is available France always perform well.

Inspired by his playmaking skills, they reached the semi-finals of Euro 96 before losing on penalties to the Czech Republic and won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000.

"I would always rather field a Zidane at 10 percent of his fitness than any other guy at 100 per cent," said Jacquet at the time. "He is a potential match winner and when you play a tournament like this one (Euro 96), you need to win."

Zidane proved once again last weekend that the former France coach was right when he scored two minutes from time in a hard-fought 1-0 win over Ukraine in their last warm-up match.

Santini will look forward to watching him against England in their Group B opening match in Lisbon on Sunday, hoping Zizou will be able to inspire the team to yet another victory.