Van Nistelrooy calls time on international career
Monday, 04 Aug 2008 22:17
Van Nistelrooy scored 33 goals in 64 games for Holland
Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy has announced his retirement from international football.
The 32-year-old Dutch international spoke to national coach Bert van Marwijk on Monday and told the manager that we would now longer be available for selection.
"After studying the schedule of Real Madrid and the Dutch team, I realised that looking at the required physical effort to perform well at that level, a choice had to be made," van Nistelrooy said.
"The combination of the league, cup and Champions League matches of Real Madrid on one hand, and the schedule of the Dutch team on the other, is too heavy for me.
"It leaves me with no other choice. Of course you don't easily make such decisions. I had a really good European Championship with 'Oranje' and I look back with a good feeling," he said.
New Dutch coach Van Marwijk wished the former
Manchester United striker luck with the rest of his career.
"I had a long talk with Ruud and the only thing I can and want to do is respect his decision," Van Marwijk said.
"Of course it's a shame that I can't use his qualities and international experience. I hope that Ruud will do great at Real Madrid."
Van Nistelrooy has played 64 matches for the Dutch team, scoring 33 goals in the process. He made his first international appearance in a friendly with Germany in 1998, but missed Euro 2000 when Holland were hosts as result of injury. He went on to represent the national team at Euro 2004 and 2008 and the 2006 World Cup.