 Juninho wants others to follow his example and retire |
Brazil midfielder Juninho Pernambucano has announced his international retirement and believes a number of his team-mates should follow suit. The Olympique Lyonnais playmaker feels youngsters must be given a chance after the World Cup defeat by France.
Juninho, 31, said: "The national team is over for me and those of us over 30 have to leave a place for the younger players to make a new team for 2010.
"We have to think about the young guys and build up another team."
Brazil stars such as Roberto Carlos, Cafu, Gilberto, Emerson, Ze Roberto, Ricardinho and keepers Dida and Rogerio Ceni are all the wrong side of 30.
The reigning world champions went out of the competition with a whimper to a France team that was criticised in its own country for having too many old players.
However, Juninho added: "There is total sadness but this is not the time to appoint blame, we all lost."
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