Spain striker Raul said that he hopes his team's clash against France in the World Cup last 16 Round on Tuesday will mark the end of the road for Real Madrid teammate Zinedine Zidane. Zidane earlier announced that he will hang his boots by the end of France's World Cup campaign and Raul said that despite the two players' friendship, he'd love to put an end to Zidane's career. "I obviously hope that it will be Zidane's last game," Raul was quoted as saying by Spanish magazine Marca on Monday. "He is a great player and has played his last game for Real Madrid, and I hope that for the good of Spain, tomorrow will be his last one for France."
Zidane Raul turns 29 on Tuesday and the Real Madrid skipper said that his best birthday gift would be beating France and reaching the final eight in the World Cup. "It's the first time I'll be celebrating my birthday in a tournament because in the past we've usually been put out earlier than this," Raul said. "But tomorrow I'll be forgetting all the personal things and concentrate on the game, the perfect way to celebrate will be with a win." Despite being on the bench in most of Spain's group games, Raul said that he isn't much concerned with being selected by Aragones or not, clearing that his priority is to help the team whenever he's called. "I always said that I'm always prepared to play, the team's selection was the best in each game and if I can start tomorrow I'm happy, but the important thing is when the referee blows the final whistle Spain would be in the final eight," Raul said.
