Czech Republic goalkeeper Petr CechCzech Republic goalkeeper Petr Cech announced his retirement from international soccer on Friday following his country's group stage exit at Euro 2016. "I'm now 34 and the next (international) tournament is in two years which, in football, is a very long time. Cech, who made his international debut in 2002, moved to Arsenal in June last year after spending 11 years across London at Chelsea, where he won four titles and the Champions League trophy in 2012. The last thing I wanted to do was start a campaign and then say 'I don't think it's right for me to continue' halfway through it." The 34-year-old keeper, who plays for Arsenal in the English Premier League, is his country's most capped player with 124 appearances and played all three games at the tournament where the Czech Republic could only manage one point in Group D."This is a purely football-based decision.

Source: Standard Digital July 08, 2016 12:22 UTC