Petr Cech retires from international football
©Petr Cech- Facebook
Czech Republic and Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech has announced his retirement from international football after the team's Euro exit in the group stages. The retirement brings to an end Cech's record 124 games for country over a 14-year career including a Euro 2004 semi-final appearance.
"When I was a kid, my ultimate dream was to play for the national team at least once," he told Arsenal's website.
"Having done it so many times makes me really proud."
"I would hate to end up in a situation when I would start feeling tired midway through a qualifying campaign," the 34-year-old told reporters in Prague on Friday.
"I'm sorry we failed to fulfil the potential of the team, we obviously could have done better," said Cech.
"I like to do things at a 100 percent."
"The decision is final."
"I feel there will be a moment when I will need more time to rest," said the former Chelsea and current Arsenal stopper.
Petr Cech beat Karel Poborsky’s record of 118 games for the Czech Republic before surpassing David James as the keeper with the most clean sheets in the Premier League with 178. James had 169.
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He won four Premier League titles with Chelsea (2005, 2006, 2010, and 2015), the Champions League in 2012 and the Europa League in 2013, along with many other trophies. He joined Arsenal in 2015, after 11 years with Chelsea, for $14.4 million when it became clear that Thibaut Courtois was the first-choice keeper at Stamford Bridge.
We lived some amazing moments together - Wishing the team all the best for the future #CZE pic.twitter.com/w1BT91BhbT
— Petr Cech (@PetrCech) July 8, 2016
.@PetrCech has announced his international retirement - congratulations on a record-breaking career with 🇨🇿 pic.twitter.com/URVJvgvDFa
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) July 8, 2016
