http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,1563,1324080,00.html 挑重點講 歐錦盃打完後，法國九八與兩千年時席丹等世代幾乎退光了；Nedved也退出國家隊； 連才二十九歲的Scholes也跟著退出國家隊。 這篇裡講出其實身為一個球星，特別是國家隊中堅人物是很辛苦的一件事，打完聯賽 打歐冠，還有國家隊的比賽。特別是打國家隊，每個星期坐飛機飛來飛去，除了練球 就是被關在旅館裡哪裡也沒得去，國家隊比賽的地點也不一定是什麼歐洲觀光勝地， 好不容易六月後球季結束，本想多花點時間跟家人在一起時，卻被徵召去打國際大盃賽， 打的好大家都說你是英雄，打不好回國球迷媒體狂轟爛炸（亨利在打完歐錦盃後也曾考 慮過退出國家隊），到了三十歲相信大多數人都會厭倦這種生活。（有點像電影 Wimbledon裡主角的心理） 所以當這些國家隊核心人物感覺體力實在有點負荷不了時，明瞭到國家隊與俱樂部兩 者要取其一時，他們多半選擇俱樂部。畢竟這些核心人物在俱樂部每週六七萬鎊以上 的高薪，從國家隊退休可以讓他們的職業生命再延長一兩年，說不定等合約到期，俱 樂部還願意再續約一年（像Bergy已經續了幾次一年的約了，兩次？三次？）。雖然席 丹等人退休的理由有的是家庭因素，有的是讓出條路給在國家隊的後進，不過，想延長 在俱樂部的職業生命相信也是重要的因素之一。 九四年柯麥隆的Miller以四十歲高齡在世界盃進球站在角旗邊扭臀弄腰時，比他年輕 十一歲的Schoels就宣布退休了。也許國際足總該做點什麼留住老球星吧。 最後，衛報還打趣的編出一個近來退休國家隊名將的十一人球隊： The 'I quit' XI Francesco Toldo (Inter Milan, ex-Italy) Age: 32 'I think it is only right that I step aside and allow room for the new generation. Italy are in safe hands. I had already decided to retire before Euro 2004, but I didn't want to announce it then.' Lilian Thuram (Juventus, ex-France) Age: 32 'I have already given as much as I can for France. In two years' time, maybe some players will be performing better than me. It's time they get ready. It's the end of Thuram's cycle.' Jaap Stam (AC Milan, ex-Holland) Age: 32 'With AC Milan I will already be away from home a lot and I have a family to consider as well as my career. Holland must look forwards, not back.' Dejan Stefanovic (Portsmouth, ex-Serbia) Age: 29 'I want my club to come first. There was a lot of travelling involved and it was sometimes taking days to get to and from matches. I did not enjoy that.' Luis Figo (Real Madrid, ex-Portugal) Age: 31 'I think the time has come to take a break. I feel the need to stop. There are moments in life when we are forced to make choices. This one is particularly difficult for me.' Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid, ex-France) Age: 32 'It's important to know when your time has come. My decision is going to give me more time to focus on my job with Madrid. I will also have more time to rest throughout the season.' Claude Makelele (Chelsea, ex-France) Age: 31 'I shall be 33 in 2006. It's time to give way to the young generation of players like Benoit and Pedretti. They need experience before the next World Cup.' Pavel Nedved (Juventus, ex-Czech Republic) Age: 32 'My state of health is not good enough to withstand the tremendous physical load. The injuries I have accumulated recently take much longer to heal than for a younger player.' Manuel Rui Costa (AC Milan, ex-Portugal) Age: 32 'The reasons behind my decision are not important. I already feel nostalgia for this side just thinking about this. The handing over of power to the next generation is almost complete.' Paul Scholes (Manchester United, ex-England) Age: 29 'This is a decision I have not taken lightly. Euro 2004 was fantastic but afterwards I felt the time was right for myself and my family to make it my last England appearance.' Alan Shearer (Newcastle United, ex-England) Age: 34 'I honestly believe my remaining football ambitions can be fulfilled with Newcastle United in the Premiership and in the Champions League.' Manager: Kevin Keegan (Manchester City, ex-England) Age : 53 'I told the players that is me finished. I feel I fall short of what is required for this job. The fans put me in this job and when I was walking off at the end of the game I felt some of them told me maybe it was time for me to go.' --

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