France midfielder Claude Makelele insists team-mate Zinedine Zidane was doing all he could to ensure a glorious career does not end on the bench tonight against Togo in a World Cup Group G match.

Zidane, like full-back Eric Abidal, is suspended for the match with France's former colony which they must win by two clear goals to be certain of a place in the last 16.

However, 33-year-old Makelele insisted Zidane was playing a motivational role in the team's Aerzen base for a game which, in the event of France failing to qualify, would mean Zidane's career would end as a frustrated spectator.

"Zidane knows the difficulty of the game we face tomorrow but he has been helping the team," said the Chelsea midfielder.

"He has been talking to certain players to get them in the right spirit for the game."

Zidane, who will quit football at the end of France's World Cup, will celebrate his 34th birthday today while team-mate Patrick Vieira turns 30.