Russian goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev, who plays for the CSKA Moscow football club, said on Monday that he quit the national football team, which he captained during the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 01st October, 2018) Russian goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev, who plays for the CSKA Moscow football club, said on Monday that he quit the national football team, which he captained during the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
"Each story has its own beginning and its end, and my story with the national team has come to its logical conclusion. It was a great honor for me to bring the Russian team to the domestic World Cup as its captain. To be honest, I never even dreamed of this. But it happened and probably became the peak of my career in the national team," Akinfeev said, as quoted on the website of CSKA Moscow football club.
He stressed that it was high time for him to give way to younger footballers to play for the Russian team.
"Fifteen years in the national team is a long time. Every year it becomes more and more difficult for me to play on two fronts, and strain myself to the limit. Given my past injuries, more and more time is needed for me to recover. And now I realize very clearly that it's time I gave way to younger counterparts and focused on performance for my native club - CSKA," Akinfeev said.
He noted that Russia had very promising young players.
"I'm leaving with peace of mind: very good and promising youth have appeared in Russia, with some of the guys already presenting themselves as real leaders at this World Cup. We should believe in young players and support them in every way. And may this generation be much more successful than ours. We will be only glad," the goalkeeper stressed.
Akinfeev debuted in the Russian team in 2004.
With 112 caps for the national team, he is second only to teammate Sergei Ignashevich, who quit the national team earlier this year.
In 2008, Akinfeev became a bronze medalist at the UEFA European Championship.
