Nakamura quits Japan on 98 caps
Reuters - Thursday 01 July 2010, 11:12
TOKYO - Japan midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura
has quit international football two caps short of making 100
appearances after the Blue Samurai were knocked out of the World
Cup.
Local media reported on Thursday that the 32-year-old had
decided to retire from the national side after spending most of
the South Africa finals on the bench.
"My next Japan game? There won't be one," Nakamura told
Thursday's Nikkan Sports after Japan were beaten on penalties by
Paraguay in the last 16 of the World Cup on Tuesday.
"I wanted to leave some mark on this World Cup. It's weird.
It's as if the football gods are testing me."
Nakamura was controversially left out of Japan's squad by
Frenchman Philippe Troussier when the country co-hosted the
World Cup in 2002 and the team reached the last 16.
He played at the 2006 finals under Brazilian Zico when the
Japanese exited meekly in the first round after collecting just
one point.
"Tolerating (not playing) has been really hard," said
Nakamura, who played 98 times for Japan and scored 24 goals.
"Me and the World Cup obviously don't go well together,"
added the former Celtic and Espanyol player. "Maybe that's just
destiny."
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