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| Friday, 27 August 2010 14:44 |
Official: Simao retires from national teamForward says good-bye after 15 years of service Portugal has lost one of its most dedicated servants in Simao Sabrosa. The player has officially communicated to the FPF in an open letter that he will no longer lace up for the national team.
The news comes as a shock as Simao never hinted at international retirement, but the player has admitted that it was through "a period of profound reflection" that he came to his decision, which was based on "personal motives." Simao has represented Portugal since the age of 15, winning the U16 European Championships as a promising youth player. Since then, the former Sporting and Benfica winger played a big role in helping his country to the runners-up spot in the 2004 European Championships and fourth place in the 2006 World Cup. The 30-year-old leaves the national team programme with "tremendous honour" and "is extremely proud for have taken part in extraordinary teams that have earned various victories in this world of football." Simao will be missed due to his talent and experience and the way he has conducted himself at all times, never getting involved in controversies. He admits that he will continue to follow the exploits of the national team "with friendliness," and thanks all the players, coaches, and everyone he has encountered in the Seleccao for all of his success. by Marco Pereira Keep up to date with all the latest news on Portuguese football with the PortuGOAL Twitter! |
One positive note .....He will be even better for Athletico this year.
Cheers !!! Simao.
And who was the idiot who brought up Quaresma on this topic? This is about Simao - go talk elsewhere. Simao was one of my favorite players and I'm glad to have watched him for Portugal since 2004.
Obrigado Simao for all the years and we'll definitely miss you.
That means the golden generation is over since simao announced his retirement..welcome the next golden generation!!
What an incredible player he's proven himself to be over the years! It's very sad to hear of this news, but I wish him the best of luck in his future and career with Atletico Madrid. Hopefully he decides to come back and play for us again, because he will truly be missed on the pitch.
Obrigado Simao!
You are one of Benficas favourite sons, one of portugals top players and represented us perfectly during our golden generation.
Simao you are a star and what a footballer should be, goodluck with the rest of your playing career.
Maybe he'll change his mind before the Euros start (like Figo did in 2006).
Maybe if they get rid of Queiroz he will come back into the squad. I still think he has something to offer to the NT. Whether he will deal with those personal things and come back nobody knows.
If he doesn't..well I believe that he was really underrated, especially over the last two years. While Ronaldo was crying and complaining, Simao was just getting on with it and taking us to the play offs (not on his own, I know, but you get my point).
I'll always love him for what he did for portugal but it was his time to go for newer better players like nani, quaresma, varela, vieirinha etc......
People need to appreciate his hard work for the national team and these anti's need to calm down. Simao is already a UEFA SuperCup winner assisting Aguero. Let's no forget his assist for Postiga in the Euro 2004 against England I will never forget that about Simao. Now it's time for players like Nani and Varela to step up!
Obrigado Simao!
4-4-2
GK: Eduardo
LB: Fabio C.
LCB: Bruno A.
RCB: Pepe
RB: Bosingwa (hopefully)
LW: Nani/Varela
LCM/Defensive Mid: Miguel V.
RCM/Offensive Mid: Raul M.
RW:Varela/Nani
LF: CR
RF: Danny Backup
He was the top goal scorer for Portugal in qualifying and without him we would have never qualified. He’s been one of the most consistent players that always added value. In addition he was one of the last players that showed the true class the golden generation had. Most of the kids we have nowadays are brats and barely show the level of respect needed to wear a national shirt. We only have to look at the likes of Ronaldo, Quaresma, and Veloso to see how childish these kids are.
I’m hoping they grow a set and start acting like the Rui Costa’s and Figo’s of the past because we are losing a lot of respect and I'm sick of watching them sit on the ground when they lose the ball.
As for this constant talk about ?Quaresma?
Quaresma is a flop, a has been, maybe even a never was, so people please get over it!!!
Reality check, Quaresma showed all the promise of a CR7, however, he's lazy, lazy and incredibly selfish.
He will only ever be good in an under par league with under par opposition.
What has he ever done? Besides one great season in Porto, he has done nothing! I will remind you that one season he was playing for that ultra strict dutch coach, who benched him a good part of the 1st half of that season due to poor work ethic, and bad attitude.
He has never been able to win himself a position on any great team even though he has all this talent...
Barcelona... flop!
Inter... flop!
Chelsea... flop!
Inter again... flop!
May I remind you the great Jose Mourinho went to get Quaresma himself, and even he gave up on him.
Sure he looks good in whatever god forsaken league he plays at now, and sure he'll have a great game when he comes up against a Portuguese team in European play, but please, I only want the best on our national team, and Quaresma has shown us that he is far from that.
Nani, is without question our new left wing, CR7 the right, now let's identify a couple others to back them up, or challenge for a spot, but please, please, please... stop fantasizing about Quaresma... All he has proven is that he will always be a could have been!
I think his retirement will open up spots for Nani (no more Nani vs Simao debate), Varela, and even the underachieving Quaresma has a shot. It is time to introduce changes and this retirement is a sign of the changing of the guard.
Now the future for the wings is clear Ronaldo, Nani, Varela and this now opens a big door for Quaresma so we will see in the near future.