UK Football

By Bertrand Boucey

PARIS, March 24 (Reuters) - Chelsea forward Nicolas Anelka agreed on Monday he had made mistakes since his debut for France 10 years ago but said he had no regrets.

"I've made mistakes, that's life, but regrets, no, I don't have any," Anelka told reporters at France's training camp outside Paris, where he was preparing for Wednesday's friendly against England at the Stade de France.

Anelka won his first cap in April, 1998, in a 0-0 draw with Sweden during a warmup game for the World Cup later in the year. He was then in dazzling form for Arsenal with a bright future ahead.

A few weeks later, however, coach Aime Jacquet left him out of his World Cup squad and he did not take part in France's triumphant campaign on home soil.

He missed the next two World Cups as well, his only achievement for France so far being as member of the 2000 European championship title winning side.

The clash against England revives memories of a magnificent performance by Anelka in February, 1999, at Wembley, where he scored both goals in a 2-0 win by France.

"That was 10 years ago," he said on Monday. "I scored two goals but I wasn't that extraordinary. I've played better matches than that one."

Many felt Anelka was wasting his talent when he was playing for unglamorous clubs Manchester City, Bolton or Fenerbahce, not to mention Paris St Germain, but the Frenchman, who moved to Chelsea during the winter break, is not at all bitter.

Euro 2008 is fast approaching but for the moment, the Blues come before les Bleus, he said.

"I'm thinking about Euro 2008 a bit but a lot of great matches are coming up for Chelsea," he said. "At the moment it's 100 percent for the club."