Andres Iniesta retires from international football after Spain World Cup 2018 exit

Iniesta bid farewell after winning 131 caps for Spain
EPA
Standard Sport1 July 2018

Andres Iniesta has retired from international football following Spain's shock World Cup 2018 exit against Russia.

Iniesta was left out of Spain's starting line-up for their last-16 clash against World Cup hosts Russia in Moscow on Sunday.

The 34-year-old midfielder, who left boyhood club Barcelona this summer to join Japanese side Vessel Kobe, came on in the second half against the Russians with the scores level at 1-1, but could not make the breakthrough as the game went to a penalty shootout.

Iniesta, who scored the winning goal in the 2010 World Cup final, saw his hopes of another triumph end as Russia won the shootout 4-3, and he announced his international retirement in the hours following the final whistle.

"Sometimes the finals are not how you dream them," Iniesta said of his final appearance in a Spain shirt.

"It's true that it is my last match with the national team, on a personal level it's the end of a magnificent phase.

"Overall, I think it's the saddest day of my career."

Getty Images

After 131 caps for La Roja, he added: "There's a relay, there are players, the important thing is to find the way to success again, it is not easy, it is more complicated than it seems, but the national team will continue."

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