Cafu won't quit Brazil team

Brazil captain Cafu insists he will resist calls for him to retire from international football.

Brazil captain Cafu insists he will resist calls for him to retire from international football.

The 36-year-old was unable to lead his country to back-to-back World Cup titles after Brazil lost to France in the quarter finals.

The team's exit has sparked calls for the old guard to make way for the younger generation in order to prepare fully for the 2010 tournament in South Africa.

Roberto Carlos has already quit playing for his country, but Cafu, despite his advancing years, is not planning to follow suit.

The Milan full back is aware of the clamour for him to retire from representing Brazil, but he feels Germany was merely a blip for the national team.

"I am not a thief," affirmed Cafu. "I feel that everyone looks at me as if I would have stolen something.

"I am not the person they think I am. Cafu is a normal person that, unfortunately, has lost the World Cup.

"I want to say to the supporters that the image that they should keep from me is the one they had in 2002, but the press is being very unfair with me and only shows the defeat we had this year.

"My career shows that I had more victories than defeats. What happened in Germany is only an accident.

"I can't resign from the national team after my first defeat, despite the fact many people are doing all that is possible to make me go.

"I am going to keep on playing for Brazil each time I am recalled to the team."