Rosický considering international retirement after World Cup qualification failure

The captain of the Czech Republic, Tomáš Rosický, has said he will consider retiring from international soccer following the team’s failure to reach the 2014 World Cup. The midfielder, who is 32, was forced off with injury in the first half of a 2:1 defeat to Italy in Turin on Tuesday that made it impossible for the Czechs to take second place in their group and a possible berth in the playoffs for Brazil. Manager Michal Bílek stood down in the wake of the defeat.

Author: Ian Willoughby