Thursday, 5th September, 2013
Eric Abidal admits he has come a long way from the days when playing in anything was a pain to being part of France's World Cup qualifying set-up once again.
Abidal was named in France's squad for the World Cup qualifiers set to take place tomorrow and next week, to bring his recovery from a liver tumour a full circle.
He first took his leave from Barcelona – the club that supported him throughout his treatment – and was eventually signed up by Monaco.
For the 33-year-old, the France call-up is just a bonus, as he told L'Equipe: "When things ended with Barcelona, I was not thinking about France. My first thought was to find a club.
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"But from the first moment that you become eligible for selection, you have to start believing.
"You live day to day. You can be in great shape and all of a sudden have a tumour. Today, I take time for my family and friends because anything can happen so fast."
Indeed, Abidal made an appearance for Les Bleus in a friendly against Belgium on 14th August , prompting some criticism given that he had not played for France since February 2012.
However, Abidal has shrugged off the negativity as France prepare to take on Georgia tomorrow ahead of next week's clash against Belarus.
"From what I experienced, there will always be critics", he added. "But the coach said that I had good preparation.
"As of this moment I am playing and as long as I can continue reaping good benefits, there are no worries."
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