Petit to Retire after EURO 2008

May 26, 2008 – 2:51 pm | by admin

Petit announced recently that EURO 2008 would mark his last appearance as an international football player. Petit is 31 years old and he said that he wanted to retire from international football after EURO 2008 because of injuries.

SL Benfica’s player announced his decision at a media conference in Viseu, where Portugal’s national football team are currently preparing for the finals for EURO 2008. “We have players with a great future ahead of them in the Portugal midfield, so I think it’s time … this will probably be my last [UEFA] European Championship and my last matches for my country,” Petit said.

Petit played at the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cups, at EURO 2004 and now he will play also at EURO 2008 before he retires from international football. He was capped for 53 times and has scored four goals for his country. However, he has been struggling for some time with knee and thigh injuries. This season, for example, has been the poorest of his nine-year top-flight career.

“I have had some complicated injuries but I will be back to my best at the EURO,” said Petit at the media conference in Viseu.

Tags: Euro 2008 News, Petit, Portugal