Everton defender Nuno Valente has announced his retirement from international football.
Everton defender quits international scene
Everton defender Nuno Valente has announced his retirement from international football.
Valente was part of the Portugal side who were beaten by Greece in the Euro 2004 final on home soil and has been capped 32 times by his country.
The former Porto full-back was not part of Luiz Felipe Scolari's squad for the Euro 2008 tournament, but appeared to be under consideration by new national team boss Carlos Queiroz.
Valente was included in a preliminary pool of players to represent Portugal at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa by the ex-Manchester United No.2.
Not capable
But Valente has elected to call time on his career with his country as he does not believe he will be able to perform at the standard required on the international stage.
He told the club's
official website: "I've been very pleased to receive this provisional call-up for the 2010 South African World Cup.
"Nevertheless, I feel I've done my job but I'm not capable of representing my country as a player should."
