The man they call โThunderboltโ will no longer be banging in shots from distance for Norway as John Arne Riise announced his internationalย retirementย on Monday.
The 32 year old left-back goes out as Norwayโsย most-capped player ever with 110 appearances.ย Riise made his debut for the Drillos against Iceland in January 2000 and went on to score his first international goal against Turkey in a friendly the following month. Over the ensuing decade Riise solidified his spot as Norwayโsย first-choice left-back. In last Augustโs match against Greece, Riise played his 104th match for Norway, equalling the 50 year old record held byย Thorbjรธrn Svenssen.
Riise claims his decision to quit international football was because he recognized he was in the final phase of his career and wanted to fully focus on club football at Fulham. โAfter a lot of thought Iโve decided not to continue with international football,โ Riise said in a statement on Monday.
โI am going into the final stage of my career and Iโm at an age where I have to take a clear decision if I want to achieve my final goal, to play another four or five years in Europe.โ
Whileย Norwegianย Football Associationย president Yngve Hallen was gracious in his receipt of the news โ noting that โ[Riiseโs] contribution on the pitch has been formidable,โ โ the ginger has chosen an interesting time to retire.
With just five matches remaining inย FIFA World Cup Qualifying, Norway sits in fourth place in Group E, justย five points behind group leader Switzerland and two adrift of Iceland and Albania.ย Itโs a position that many would feel Norway could take advantage of as they try to qualify for their first World Cup since 1998. Furthermore, the fact that Riise has never participated in a World Cup makes the decision even more surprising.
Like many players on the wrong side of 30, Riiseโs decision makes financial sense. By freeing himself of international football he decreases the strain on his legs, increasing the likelihood that he can continue to perform well for Fulham and earn himself one more contract to pad that bank account.
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