by TheoRacle » Thu Nov 03, 2005 4:05 am
From ESPNSoccernet:
Updated: Nov. 2, 2005, 12:00 PM UK
Hyypia ponders international retirement
Liverpool defender Sami Hyypia is considering retiring from international football.
Following Finland's failure to qualify for the World Cup finals, the 32-year-old centre half believes his chances of playing in a major finals have disappeared, with the Euro 2008 qualifiers not starting until next season.
Hyypia made his 75th appearance for his country in the recent 3-0 defeat by the Czech Republic where he played against former Liverpool team-mates Milan Baros and Vladimir Smicer.
Hyypia says: 'I have thought about retiring from international football but I will wait a while longer and see how I feel.
'Finland have a new coach, Roy Hodgson, who is coming in next year and so that would be a good incentive to continue. The next qualifiers don't start until August so I have plenty of time to think about it.
'I will take a little break from the international scene and see how I feel. When you have less international games it can help at club level so it will be good for me, the club and the team that I will feel fresher for Liverpool.'
Sami's obviously got his mind on Liverpool as his priority which is good to see. Still Finnish fans will be sorry to see him step down from the national team I'm sure.
"My Maserati does one eighty five - I lost my license, now I don't drive..."