XABI ALONSO HAS scotched reports that he will retire from international football after Spain’s final World Cup game in Brazil. The Real Madrid midfielder was reported by numerous media outlets to be walking away from the Spanish team at the age of 32 following their shock first round exit from the tournament.
However, Alonso told Spanish radio station Onda Cero: ““I’m still not at that moment, I want all this [in Brazil] to end as soon as possible, go on holiday, disconnect a little and then decide things with time. Right now is not the time.”
Iker Casillas and Xabi Alonso react after Chile's Eduardo Vargas, centre, scored his side's opening goal. Bernat Armangue
Bernat Armangue
Alonso has scored 16 goals in 113 international outings. He is a World Cup winner and has two European Championship winners’ medals. His penalty against Holland is Spain’s only World Cup goal thus far.
He missed out on Real Madrid’s Champions League final victory over Atletico Madrid due to suspension. Vicente del Bosque may opt to drop Alonso from his country’s final game against Australia in order to give starts to squad members such as Juan Mata, Cesc Fabregas and Koke.
Xabi Alonso denies reports he is retiring from Spanish team
XABI ALONSO HAS scotched reports that he will retire from international football after Spain’s final World Cup game in Brazil. The Real Madrid midfielder was reported by numerous media outlets to be walking away from the Spanish team at the age of 32 following their shock first round exit from the tournament.
However, Alonso told Spanish radio station Onda Cero: ““I’m still not at that moment, I want all this [in Brazil] to end as soon as possible, go on holiday, disconnect a little and then decide things with time. Right now is not the time.”
The midfielder’s comments mirror those of England’s Steven Gerrard, a former teammate of Alonso when he played with Liverpool.
Alonso has scored 16 goals in 113 international outings. He is a World Cup winner and has two European Championship winners’ medals. His penalty against Holland is Spain’s only World Cup goal thus far.
He missed out on Real Madrid’s Champions League final victory over Atletico Madrid due to suspension. Vicente del Bosque may opt to drop Alonso from his country’s final game against Australia in order to give starts to squad members such as Juan Mata, Cesc Fabregas and Koke.
Spain take on Australia from 5pm today.
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