ROME. Dec 31: French international Lilian Thuram wants to stay at UEFA Cup holders Parma until his contract expires In 2004, he told the Italian sports dally Gazzetta Dello Sport on Friday, reports AFP.

"Football today is very complicated. it’s not possible to make plans, but I'm proud to be captain of this team, because that shows that I'm appreciated as a man. I have a contract until 2004 and I want to respect it." said Thuram.

The former AS Monaco player, who scored the two goals that lifted France into the World Cup final, said that he enjoyed playing as a wing back because this allowed him to play offensively and he had still a lot to learn.

"I like attacking and on the right wing I can ao this more easily. I would like to Improve my game in this area and to score more goals."

Thuram believes that Parma could lift the Italian title for the first time this year, particularly as they are currently lying third In the league table four points behind leaders Lazio.

However, he does not think that France will feature In Euro 2000.

"If we play like we've been playing recently, we won't get very far. We have to find the spirit of the 1998 World Cup," he added.