Italy captain Paolo Maldini has confirmed his retirement from the national team despite an appeal by coach Giovanni Trapattoni for him to carry on. Maldini, Italy's most capped player with 126 appearances, had said on several occasions that he intended to quit the 'Azzurri' after the World Cup finals which ended on June 30th.
Italy were knocked out in the second round by South Korea and Trapattoni asked Maldini to stay on for at least part of the European championship qualification campaign. "I have thought a lot about the national side and my decision has not changed," Maldini said in comments reported by Italian media today.
"Trapattoni and my team mates from the World Cup squad have tried to change my mind but the fundamental thing is that someone who is 34 years of age cannot think about playing in the European championship in 2004," said Maldini. Italy begin their European qualification campaign in Baku against Azerbaijan on September 7 and also face Yugoslavia, Wales and Finland in group nine.
Filed by James Shortt
