Theirry Henry: “I Will Not Come Back To The French Team Again”

Thierry Henry had previously announced his international retirement in conjunction with his move to the New York Red Bulls and Major League Soccer.

As the France team is in upheaval - with Laurent Blanc announcing he will not call-up any players who played at this summer’s World Cup - Henry was asked by French magazine L’Equipe if he would return to the team if asked by Blanc. The question gave the new Red Bull striker an opportunity to affirm his decision to retire from international soccer:

In an interview in sports daily L’Equipe on Friday, the 32-year-old Henry was asked if he would return if Blanc asked him to help out during the 2012 European Championship qualifying campaign, which begins against Belarus on Sept. 3.

“I won’t go. It’s finished,” Henry said. “I will not come back to the French team again.”

Henry scored 51 goals in 123 caps for France, at one time serving as the team’s captain. That captaincy ended this summer when Henry was dropped from then-coach Raymond Domenech’s starting XI. The French squad led by Patrice Erva went on to accumulate only one point in group play, infamously staging a protest that canceled training ahead of France’s final match against South Africa.

France plays their next match on August 14 against Norway. Henry is expected to make his Major League Soccer debut on Saturday in Houston.