Portugal's Petit said he expects to retire from international football after UEFA EURO 2008™ as injuries take their toll on the 31-year-old SL Benfica midfielder.
Time to go
Petit made the announcement at a media conference in Viseu, where Luiz Felipe Scolari's team are preparing for the finals. He said: "We have players with a great future ahead of them in the Portugal midfield, so I think it's time ... this will probably be my last [UEFA] European Championship and my last matches for my country."
Experienced campaigner
If Petit keeps his word, he will be bowing out at his fourth major tournament, having played at the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cups as well as at UEFA EURO 2004™. Although the former Boavista FC man featured seven times in qualifying for Austria and Switzerland – taking his tally to 53 caps and four goals – he has struggled with knee and thigh injuries this season. His return of 17 Liga appearances for Benfica is the poorest of his nine-year top-flight career. "I have had some complicated injuries but I will be back to my best at the EURO," he vowed.
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