Former Liverpool veteran to hang up boots after disappointing campaign.
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Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso is set to announce his retirement from international football this week following Spain’s shambolic showing at the World Cup, according to the Daily Mirror.
The 32-year-old is the winner of three major international tournaments having been a part of the squad that lifted the World Cup in 2010 as well as the European Championships at 2008 and 2012.
However, he has decided that this year’s tournament will be his last.
Reports in Spain are suggesting that the Real Madrid string puller made the decision before the World Cup kicked off earlier this month and has been convinced that it is the right decision to do so following his country’s defeats to the Netherlands and Chile, which ended their involvement and booked them on premature flights back home.
His final international match as part of Vicente Del Bosque’s squad will come on Monday, when Spain take on Australia.
The match against the Socceroos will be his 113th appearance for the side, during which time he bagged 16 goals, and will bring the curtain down on an 11-year career with his country.
Additionally, Alonso was named in UEFA’s Team of the Tournament at the European Championship in 2012.