Deschamps 'not closing the door' on France swansong for Henry

Coach Didier Deschamps has not ruled out handing Thierry Henry one last taste of international football with France.

Deschamps 'not closing the door' on France swansong for Henry

Coach Didier Deschamps has not ruled out handing Thierry Henry one last taste of international football with France.

The 37-year-old striker is looking for a new adventure having announced his decision to leave New York Red Bulls, with a return to former club Arsenal in a coaching capacity potentially on the cards.

A campaign by daily sports newspaper L'Equipe has lobbied for Henry - who retired from international duty four years ago - to be given his 124th cap when France face Brazil in a friendly in March by way of a tribute.

But while national boss Deschamps agrees Henry deserves recognition for his achievements, he says he currently has no plans to include the ex-Barcelona forward in his plans as France prepare to host the 2016 European Championships.

Speaking to L'Equipe, he said: "Titi (Henry) does deserve a tribute but a homage can take many forms.

"He ended his international career four years ago. Certainly, this game against Brazil is just a friendly, but we are in 2014 and we are playing in March 2015 to prepare for Euro 2016.

"Everyone is allowed their own opinion on the matter - there is no pressure on me.

"Again, I have great respect for Titi and all he has accomplished. I am not actually closing the door but I am not opening it either."

Henry scored 51 goals and had a hand in many others across his 123 appearances for Les Bleus and was a World Cup winner at France 1998.

Only two other players from that squad, David Trezeguet and Robert Pires, are still active today - the pair are currently involved in the fledgling Indian Super League.

French Football Federation president Noel Le Graet promised his organisation would "do something" for Henry and other contemporaries considered to have excelled in the blue shirt.

"The idea of recognising a great player is positive," he told L'Equipe. "We will think about it.

"At the moment we also have a responsibility to prepare for Euro 2016 and there are still quite a few matches remaining in that programme - four this season and then 10 during the next one.

"Didier has to find the best possible team ahead of the Euros.

"But we will do something for Henry, and also for other great players that we have not managed to reunite thus far."

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