YOU WILL NOT SEE THEM IN NATIONAL COLOURS AGAIN

With the World Cup coming to an end there were several footballers who decided to hang their national jersey:

ANDRES INIESTA Spain

The veteran midfielder,

who had scored the winning goal in Spain’s 2010 World Cup triumph, was not at his influencial best in this campaign. The 34-year old decided to announce his international retirement after his team fell to a shock defeat to hosts Russia in the Round of 16 stage.

JAVIER MASCHERANO Argentina

The veteran midfielder was a key component of his the campaign and Argentina’s early departure from the tournament prompted him to announce his international retirement. The 34-year old, who plays in the Chinese Super League for Hebei China Fortune, has played 147 matches for Argentina.

SARDAR AZMOUN Iran

Azmoun had scored 23 goals in 33 games for his country before the World Cup. However, he failed to find the net in the tournament and the outrage back home led him to retire from the national team. He also claimed that his mother had become seriously ill because of the insults he had received in Iran.

RAFAEL MARQUEZ Mexico

After the game against Brazil, which was his 146th and in which he became the oldest footballer to take the field in the knockout stages of a World Cup, Marquez decided to retire from national duty. The 39-year-old thus ended his career as the first player to lead a side in five World Cups.

KEISUKE HONDA Japan

The 32-year-old, who scored 37 goals in 98 caps for the Blue Samurai, called time on his career after taking his team to the Round of 16. Honda, playing in his third World Cup for Japan, scored once in the tournament but was unable to prevent his side from slipping to a 3-2 loss against Belgium.