Nedved calls time on Czech career
Friday, 24 September 2004
The European Footballer of the Year, Pavel Nedved, has retired from international football after 83 appearances for the Czech Republic.
Debut in 1994
Nedved made his international debut in June 1994 in a 3-1 win against the Republic of Ireland and was the driving force behind the Czech Republic's run to the final of EURO '96™. Having disappointed at UEFA EURO 2000™ and failed to qualify for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Nedved was a driving force as the Czechs reached the semi-finals of UEFA EURO 2004™.
Knee injury
His final match turned out to be a game to forget, however, as a knee injury saw him substituted in the defeat by Greece in Porto. Nedved was missing as the Czechs lost their opening 2006 World Cup qualifier against the Netherlands but had vowed to return for next month's matches against Group 1 leaders Romania and Andorra.
Juve commitments
The 32-year-old, who scored 17 international goals and captained his country from 2000, explained his change of heart: "My physical condition does not allow me to carry the enormous burden of representing my nation along with fulfilling of my commitments to Juventus."
'We must cope'
Czech coach Karel Brückner said: "I am surprised by his decision as I met him in Turin on Sunday and we agreed to speak about his selection before every game in the future. It is reality, we must cope with it."
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My physical condition does not allow me to carry the enormous burden of representing my nation
Pavel Nedved
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Well, so that's it :down: