Paraguay Striker Roque Santa Cruz, a veteran of three World Cups, on Tuesday (8/11) will announce his retirement from international football after their qualifying matches against Peru and Bolivia. Players 35 years old, who returned to the club where he started his career Olimpia.
He will be included in the squad coach Francisco Arce for the matches in 2018 World Cup qualifier against Peru in Asuncion on Thursday, and the away match at the headquarters of Bolivia in La Paz next Tuesday. "With this calling, I end my term of office in the national team," said Santa Cruz told reporters after the team's practice on Tuesday.
"It was a tough decision taken however to be taken at one point. In my opinion, this is the time to just dedicate myself to my club," said Santa Cruz, Paraguay's top scorer with 32 goals from 111 appearances with the national team.
"I am pleased to be able to retire when I feel I am still good enough to play," added Santa Cruz, who has played for a number of clubs including Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Blackburn Rovers, Real Betis, Malaga and Cruz Azul.
He said he would be happy to be able to play in the two qualifiers but the final decision left to the Arce, who was his partner in the national team in the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea. "We are the mature and professional figure and understand that football needs (more important) than I will play my last game or not," said Santa Cruz.
Paraguay, which failed to reach the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil, ranked seventh in the South American group that contains ten countries with the collection of 15 points from ten games, six points behind the top standings Brazil. The top four teams qualify for the finals in Russia, while the fifth-placed team will play an intercontinental playoff.
He will be included in the squad coach Francisco Arce for the matches in 2018 World Cup qualifier against Peru in Asuncion on Thursday, and the away match at the headquarters of Bolivia in La Paz next Tuesday. "With this calling, I end my term of office in the national team," said Santa Cruz told reporters after the team's practice on Tuesday.
"It was a tough decision taken however to be taken at one point. In my opinion, this is the time to just dedicate myself to my club," said Santa Cruz, Paraguay's top scorer with 32 goals from 111 appearances with the national team.
"I am pleased to be able to retire when I feel I am still good enough to play," added Santa Cruz, who has played for a number of clubs including Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Blackburn Rovers, Real Betis, Malaga and Cruz Azul.
He said he would be happy to be able to play in the two qualifiers but the final decision left to the Arce, who was his partner in the national team in the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea. "We are the mature and professional figure and understand that football needs (more important) than I will play my last game or not," said Santa Cruz.
Paraguay, which failed to reach the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil, ranked seventh in the South American group that contains ten countries with the collection of 15 points from ten games, six points behind the top standings Brazil. The top four teams qualify for the finals in Russia, while the fifth-placed team will play an intercontinental playoff.
loading...
0 Response to "Santa Cruz Announces Retirement from International Football"