By TIM FONTENAULT
The 2014 FIFA World Cup may be the last time we see Andrea Pirlo in an Italy jersey.
“I’m still thinking of retiring after this World Cup, as I have reached a certain age and it is only right to leave the pitch to the generation coming through,” the 35 year old told reporters.
Pirlo, who won the tournament with Italy in 2006 and was instrumental in the run to the Euro 2012 Final, two more years remaining on his contract with Juventus. However, as he gets older, he does not feel it would be beneficial to continue with Italy if he is not going to be on the field.
“It would be pointless to continue,” Pirlo said. “If I am needed, then there’s no problem in coming back. If I come on international duty and don’t play, then I’d get angry. It is perhaps better I stay home.”
Pirlo has earned 109 caps for the Azzurri, scoring 13 goals.
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ROONEY QUESTIONS RONALDO’S TEAMWORK
Cristiano Ronaldo cares more about winning individual awards than trophies with his teammates, at least that is what Wayne Rooney thinks.
“I’m not a player who needs [to win] individual awards like Cristiano Ronaldo,” Rooney said of his former Manchester United teammate. “He has to have that and you admire him for having that.
“I’m more about winning things as a team. You can see how he is. He wants his moments. It’s more important for me to win trophies as a team.”
Rooney and United finished seventh in the Premier League this season while Ronaldo and Real Madrid won the UEFA Champions League last month. At the World Cup, Ronaldo will try to guide Portugal to its first ever triumph while Rooney will try to lead England to its first title since 1966.
“I’ve won PFA Player of the Year, which is nowhere near as good as winning a trophy with Manchester United,” Rooney said. “I’ve not won anything this year, so hopefully I can do that now.”
SCOLARI REMAINING WITH BRAZIL DESPITE FAMILY DEATH
Brazil head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari will stay with his team and coach the hosts in the opening match of the World Cup despite the death of his nephew.
Tarcisio Joao Schneider, 48, was killed in a car accident on Tuesday in southern Brazil. With Brazil preparing to take on Croatia, Scolari does not feel that he should be leaving the squad, even to be with his family.
“Sometimes we have to deal with some difficulties, but you have to try to move on,” he said.
Scolari coached Brazil to victory at the 2002 World Cup, the last time the country won the tournament, and was brought back after Mano Menezes was sacked in 2012. The country is hosting the tournament for the first time since 1950, when they lost to Uruguay.
“For all Brazilians, I want to say our time has arrived,” Scolari said. “We want to go together. This is our World Cup.”
TRIPLE SHIFTS FOR SUAREZ
Uruguay winger Cristian Rodriguez says teammate Luis Suarez is putting in “triple shifts” in order to be ready for the World Cup opener against Costa Rica.
Suarez, who led the Premier League with 31 goals in 33 appearances for Liverpool this season, had knee surgery at the end of the season with the expectation of being ready for the tournament.
“He is very focused,” Rodriguez said. “He is working in double and triple shifts and we hope to have him with us soon.”
Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez has set no timetable for when Suarez will be ready to go, but would play him tomorrow if he could.
“As we have no set deadlines,” Tabarez said. “I don’t know if we’ll have him for the first match, for the second, for the third.”
QUICK KICKS
France National Team defender Mamadou Sakho underwent an MRI after suffering a knock to his right knee but the tests showed no damage, keeping his World Cup hopes alive. (REPORT)
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has given the green light to Carlo Ancelotti to try and sign Chelsea’s Brazilian midfielder Ramires. (REPORT)
Dutch National Team forward Robin Van Persie said in an interview that he hopes to continue playing until he’s 40-years old, with 22 professional seasons under his belt. (REPORT)
Belgium National Team head coach Marc Wilmots has signed a four-year extension to remain national team manager. (REPORT)
Midfielder Jeremy Menez has arrived in Milan to complete a medical before signing a contract with AC Milan. (REPORT)
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What do you think of these reports? Is this Pirlo’s Italy swan song? Do you think Ronaldo is more about himself than the team? Do you believe Suarez can make it back in time?
Share your thoughts below.