August 06, 2008	Wednesday	Sha’aban 3, 1429

AMSTERDAM, Aug 5: Netherlands striker Ruud van Nistelrooy has retired from international football to concentrate on his club career with Real Madrid, the Dutch Football Association said on Monday.

It said the 32-year-old had told coach Bert van Marwijk he would no longer be available for the Dutch team after deciding he could not perform to his best for club and country.

“After studying the schedule of Real Madrid and the Dutch team I realised ... playing for both teams would mean too tough a physical load for me and therefore I made this choice,” Van Nistelrooy was quoted as saying.

“I’m taking no chances and after the enjoyable Euro 2008 finals I can look back upon (my decision) with a good feeling.”

Van Nistelrooy won a total of 64 caps and scored 33 goals after making his international debut in 1998.

He missed Euro 2000 with a knee injury and the Dutch failed to qualify for the 2002 World Cup but he scored four goals at his first major tournament, the 2004 European Championship in Portugal.

He scored once at the 2006 World Cup in Germany and twice at Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland where Netherlands were upset by Russia in the quarter-finals.—Reuters