In a sensational move that has sent shock-waves around the world, the nation of Brazil has this morning (AEST) announced its immediate retirement from all levels of football – including international competition.
The revelation of the five time World Champions’ decision to draw the curtains on a storied 100 year representative career, followed the nation’s capitulation to Germany in a woefully one sided World Cup semi-final just hours earlier.
While the announcement has been a shock to many fans, suggestions that the ageing football super power was eyeing retirement began to circulate last month after the side was held to a scoreless draw by Mexico during the tournament’s group stage.
Further retirement speculation was subsequently raised following a limp performance against long time rival Chile that saw the host nation advance through a tense penalty shootout. The eternally popular Brazil was able to briefly wind back the clock to overpower a charging Colombia in an exciting quarter-final.
However, with age finally catching up on the Brazilians the challenge of overcoming the latest in a series of seemingly chronic injuries was simply too great. A relentless Germany poured on the goals in a 7-1 drubbing that has ultimately spelled the end of one of football’s greatest careers.
A clearly emotional Brazil informed reporters that while it had been a tough decision to make, it felt the timing of the retirement was right for the country at this stage of its career.
“Obviously this is not the way we wanted to go out,” the nation told a hastily organised press conference.
“We’ve always said that we’d keep playing as long as the passion was still there.
“We set very high standards and expectations for ourselves and while tried hard today it was pretty clear that there is something lacking in our football.
“We just don’t have that same heart we used to have and that’s just no acceptable at this level.”
Brazil denied that it had any regrets regarding its decision to play on into the 2014 international season saying that the opportunity to contest a World Cup on home soil for the first time in more than half a century was simply too good to refuse.
“Obviously we’d have loved to go out on a high with a World Cup Victory in front of our fans – but I guess it just wasn’t meant to be,” Brazil said, fighting back tears.
The decision will see the complete dismantling of all domestic Brazilian football leagues as well as a nationwide ban on organised matches.
The nation said that it remained extremely proud of all its footballing achievements but was now looking forward to spending more time with family as well as pursuing modelling and event organisation opportunities.
It also hinted at a possible switch of codes saying it had already been contacted by the NRL, AFL as well as senior rugby union officials.
But in closing the press conference, Brazil ruled out any future comeback to the international ‘soccer’ stage.
“Sometimes in life you just have to accept when your time is over,” the South Americans said.
“Or you risk embarrassing yourself like England keep doing”.
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