"Zizou, you are a legend!" The cry comes from an overexcited young boy in the midst of a crowd gathered at Sun City, one of South Africa's most popular tourist destinations, to watch Zinedine Zidane play in a five-a-side tournament. The French icon appears relaxed and unfazed as eager fans try to squeeze past his four bodyguards for a photo or an autograph. He grins, but says little. "That's Zizou", his aide quips, "he never says much."

Since retiring from the game, Zidane has kept his public appearances to a minimum, and interviews have been even rarer. Yet despite his withdrawal from the limelight, the former Real Madrid midfielder remains as idolised as ever by football fans the world over, for whom memories of his elegant brilliance remain vivid.

South Africa's affection was certainly reciprocated when Zizou chatted exclusively to FIFA.com, with the three-time FIFA World Player taking the opportunity to compliment the 2010 FIFA World Cup hosts. The former France captain also offered his assessment on the prospects for African nations at next year's finals, reflected with fondness and pride on France 1998, and gave his take on Les Bleus' current difficulties.

FIFA.com: Having now spent some time in South Africa, what are your impressions of the country and its people?
Zinedine Zidane: This is a very beautiful country. I have to say I'm impressed and so far I'm enjoying myself here. I'm sure that people are going to love being here. The thing is, not many people (from outside the continent) have been to Africa; for many it will be a new and completely different experience.

Of course, you yourself are of Algerian descent. How do you feel about the fact that the FIFA World Cup will be staged on African soil for the first time?
It's great for African football that we have the World Cup here. For me, it's an exciting period and an opportunity for Africa to show the rest of the world what it is capable of doing. I think this World Cup will be the best opportunity for African teams to prove to the rest of the world their capabilities. One of the things that will be to their advantage is that they will be playing on home soil - that should be a motivation in itself. What I know is that, for every player, to appear in any World Cup is an honour. However, when the event is on home soil, it brings a fantastic feeling. And from our time in France (in 1998), we saw what playing the tournament at home means. The atmosphere from your own supporters just adds more flavour and gives more motivation to the players.

I didn't know that this event had so much power to influence society, but from our experience (in 1998) I think we all saw what it can do.

Zidane on the power of the FIFA World Cup

What do you think this FIFA World Cup will mean to the South African people?
Hosting the World Cup is a special moment for any country and I'm sure South Africans will embrace the tournament. The thing about the World Cup is that it brings happiness to the supporters and I would urge South Africans to enjoy it, enjoy every moment of it because it's something they might not experience again in their lives. I'm sure this is going to be a fantastic and a new experience for many people in the country.

You mention how special it is to play in a FIFA World Cup on home soil. Can you share your experience of France 1998 with us?
I remember one of the most touching scenes for me was seeing people hugging in the streets after we won the tournament at home; it was a great moment. Many people were in tears, they were so happy - all people, both black and white. For me, that was one of the most rewarding feelings, and I hope that might also happen in South Africa. I didn't know that this event had so much power to influence society, but from our experience I think we all saw what it can do.

Who do you think will win the FIFA Confederations Cup in June?
(Pauses) I don't know, I can't really say which side will win. I think it will be interesting. We have many good sides competing.

I'm sure you have been asked so many times about that Final against Italy at Germany 2006. Given an opportunity to do it all again, would you do things differently?
(Smiles) I don't really want to talk about that. So much has been said about that game, so much has been written about things that happened during it, but to me it's history now. It was a great game and we wanted to win it. Obviously, I would have loved to see France on the winning side, but it didn't happen.

Just before that FIFA World Cup, you had played your last-ever match for Real Madrid against Villarreal. How did it feel to walk out at the Bernabeu for the last time?
It was a very emotional moment for me. Many people who know me will probably tell you that I'm not really good at showing emotions, but that game was different. When I looked at the stands, I saw my friends and my family there. They were there to support me and that made the match even more special for me. I remember that I battled to hold back tears. The thing is, deep down you know that this is your last game of your club career and, throughout my life, I have always loved playing football.

You have clearly enjoyed a hugely illustrious career. What do you regard as your biggest achievement in football?
Winning the World Cup on home soil was great, it was a special moment and it will always rate among the biggest achievements in my career.

The French team have endured a difficult period since you retired. What do you make of their current situation?
I think its fair for people to say they have been disappointed with the results from the team, they have gone through a rough patch, but I think its unfair for some individuals to say they are a bad side. They are not a bad team at all but, as I said, they are just going through a difficult period. France still have some special players who can turn their fortunes around.

THIS INTERVIEW IS TAKEN FROM FIFA.COM

Torres: Our best is yet to come

Fresh from setting a new record at club side Liverpool, having racked up 50 Premier League strikes quicker than any other player in the Anfield outfit’s history, Fernando Torres remains as fiercely ambitious as ever. Still known as El Niño (The Kid), though he is now a father himself, the 25-year-old spoke to FIFA.com about his fine current form and his goals for the future at club and international level.

FIFA.com: Fernando, last month you were included in the FIFA/FIFPro World XI 2009. How did it feel to know that over 50,000 professional players voted?
Fernando Torres: It’s a real source of joy and satisfaction as well a huge privilege. Receiving this kind of recognition from your fellow professionals is something very special, which fills you with pride. The fact they admire what you do spurs you on to keep improving, to try and continue forming part of this XI.

What’s your verdict on 2009?
Being included in the World XI without having won any silverware makes me even more motivated. What I mean is, though collectively we’ve not had the best of luck, on a personal note the balance is right and I’m doing my job well. I have to keep that going. We just need a little more luck as a team to be able to win a trophy.

Things have not gone well for Liverpool so far this season. Is the club capable of turning things around?
Unfortunately this season is not turning out how we’d wanted, but our best is still to come. Let’s hope that we can put a string of good performances together come the end-of-season run-in and the most pivotal moments, and that we can put right what we’ve not done so well up to now. And who knows, in May we might well be talking about how good a season it’s been. We’ve still got objectives to aim for.

Though collectively we’ve not had the best of luck, on a personal note the balance is right and I’m doing my job well. I have to keep that going.

Fernando Torres on Liverpool

In that case, is there confidence in the manager and within the squad?
Of course. We’re extremely confident that we can regain the position [in the table] that we deserve and that it’s still in our hands. We’re virtually the same team that finished second in the Premier League last season and we’re going to do everything we can to improve our situation.

With Spain, on the other hand, things are going extremely well, with La Roja winning all ten of their 2010 FIFA World Cup™ qualifiers. In your opinion, what was the highlight of the year for the national team?
I think that the most positive thing was how we bounced back after losing in the semi-finals of the Confederations Cup. In a way, that defeat did us good by helping us realise that the road to the World Cup wasn’t going to be easy, but that we had to stay on track. And what better way to do that than winning ten games in a row in qualifying. We’ve now recovered any confidence that we may have lost that day against the United States. What matters is we’re heading into the World Cup unbeaten and we want to finish it that way, without losing to anybody.

Do you think that defeat against USA has made you stronger?
I think that the squad’s always has its feet on the ground. Humility is the hallmark of this Spanish national side. But we’ve realised that anybody can have a bad day and that a bad day puts you out of the World Cup. That was made very clear to us at the Confederations! But we now know what we have to do so it doesn’t happen again. South Africa 2010 is our big chance and we don’t want to waste it.

We’ve realised that anybody can have a bad day and that a bad day puts you out of the World Cup. That was made very clear to us.

Torres on the lessons of Spain's defeat to USA

Spain have been drawn in Group H for South Africa 2010 alongside Switzerland, Honduras and Chile. How do you rate your group rivals?
As I was saying, the defeat against the USA taught us that any team can make life hard for you. You have to have a lot of respect for every opponent. Our goal is to take each game as it comes and finish top of the group. Whoever we face in the Round of 16 will be fearsome, whether we finish first or second, because there are some of the best teams in the world in Group G. But if you want to be world champions you have to be ready to take on any national side.

Your winning goal in the final of UEFA EURO 2008 clinched Spain’s first trophy at senior level since the 1964 European Championship. Can you see yourself repeating the feat in a few months’ time?
We all dream of winning another final, particularly at a World Cup which is what every footballer aims for. I think that at one time or another we’ve all pictured ourselves being photographed lifting the World Cup. Let’s hope that it happens this time round. We know it’s difficult, but we’re going to give everything we’ve got because we’re in good form and we may not find ourselves in a situation like this again.

Pele has said that the current Spain side reminds him of the Brazil team which triumphed at Mexico 1970. What is more, that Seleção also went into the FIFA World Cup finals after winning all their qualifying matches.
When a football legend speaks, you just have to listen. It’s an added motivation for us. However, that’s also a warning shot for our opponents and will make them more defensive against us. Let’s hope that once the World Cup is over we can say that Pele was right.

What’s your wish for 2010?
Just as every year, my wish is that we’re lucky with injuries. Not just me, but all my team-mates too because there are some very big matches coming up and that way we’ll be competing on a level playing field. If that’s the case, may the best team win.

THIS INTERVIEW IS TAKEN FROM FIFA.COM