Deco to quit international football
Reuters - Thursday 04 February 2010, 17:39
LISBON - Portugal midfielder Deco has
decided to retire from international football after the World Cup
finals in South Africa.
"I will close my cycle (with the Portugal team) at the end
of the World Cup, due to my age and because it is tiring," the
32-year-old told Brazil's Radio Globo.
Deco started his Portugal career in a friendly against his
native Brazil in March 2003. He went on to win 72 caps and score
five goals for the Iberian country. He played in the European
championships in 2004 and 2008 and the World Cup in 2006.
"The responsibility is always big. For me the 2006 side had
more experience while the current one had younger players.
Technically they are similar," he said.
The Chelsea player, who won the Champions League with Porto
in 2004 and Barcelona in 2006, added that he planned to return
to Brazil to play at club level after the end of next season.
The World Cup runs from June 11 to July 11.