"It is time to inject some fresh blood into the French team," said Hidalgo, who led France to the European title in 1984. "Marcel Desailly has already indicated that his international career is over. Players like Zidane should also retire.

"Certainly, I'm not demanding (senior players) go but I think they realize this and will go," Hidalgo said in Jinan, where he is working as a technical advisor to the Kuwait national team in the Asian Cup. Kuwait were knocked out of the tournament on Tuesday.

"The only problem is finding players who are equally good to replace them."

Defender Lilian Thuram retired from international soccer on Tuesday, while Desailly quit "Les Bleus" earlier this month.

Zidane, Fabien Barthez and Bixente Lizarazu, have hinted they could end their international careers but new France coach Raymond Domenech wants them to continue.

After winning the World Cup in 1998 and the 2000 European Championship, France were knocked out in the group stages at the 2002 World Cup and lost in the quarter-finals at Euro 2004.