Nedved to retire before WC?

[jfugate]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/scorecard/04/25/truth.rumors.soccer/index.html

Didn't see this up yet, but it's the first item in today's rumors.

[edit] Here's a slightly more informative link from goal.com:

http://www.goal.com/en-us/articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=41574

[ursula]

If true that would be nice. :)

[Adam Zebrowski]

didn't look like he was gonna retire last sunday....

[FakeFlopper]

I don't know if that's a good or bad thing. I think this is just a rumor, and coming from Italy it's hard to take at face value. If he helped them qualify, he'll help them get to the next round.

[cdin]

I would be shocked if he didn't play in the world cup. I don't know anything about is personal life but I can't imagin that an elite player would turn down their one and only chance to go to the world cup.

[jameseyla]

that's one of the stupidest rumors ever. Unless he's injured, count on Nedved starting against the USA.

[cdin]

I don't know if that's a good or bad thing. I think this is just a rumor, and coming from Italy it's hard to take at face value. If he helped them qualify, he'll help them get to the next round.
If I remember correctly, he didn't play in world cup qualification. That is part of the cause of the speculation.

[bltleo]

Well I looked all czech news right now...and I could not find any news that Nedved is going to retire...I will watch all news in next days...if it is true, then it will be big headline in all news..in german kicker too....

Only last week I posted post about czech squad for the world cup that said bruckner in interview...he added Nedved into his squad...I think if Nedved really wanted to retire, he would have told it to Brucker earlier...I also said that Nedved never played world cup..he mentioned in few interviews that it is his big challenge..he won many tournaments with Juventus, he was european player of the year, he was added to so called "ideal international 11" (best 11 players)..but he never won world cup...he never playerd in the world cup...so I don´t see any reason why he should retire..

It will be big surprise if he really retire...but I think he would have annouced it earlier not few weeks before the world cup...it would be not fair against czech coach.

as I said czech press did not mention this news.

bltleo
GERMANY

[ty webb]

This is a dumb rumor.... He will start every game if healthy in Germany.

[PasadenaBlitz]

If I remember correctly, he didn't play in world cup qualification. That is part of the cause of the speculation.
I believe he played the latter part of qualification after they had dip for a game or two.

[keller4president]

this rumor has been going around for awhile now, i think it has some legs. If Nedved was definately planning to play in the World Cup, why doesn't he just come right out and say it to squash out all the rumors? the fact that he hasn't commented on this publically leads me to believe that he is still in the process of making up his mind.

that said, it would be quite stupid of him to reject a chance to play for his country at the World Cup as a capstone to his career. he has absolutely nothing to lose. (except a game to the USA:)

[NBlue]

If I remember correctly, he didn't play in world cup qualification. That is part of the cause of the speculation.

But he did play in the WCQ playoff against Norway.

[soccerfan]

I believe he played the latter part of qualification after they had dip for a game or two.

that is correct

it seems like there is a player/coach problem they dont get along

[FakeFlopper]

Sorry, I was referring to the Norway game when I said he helped them qualify. Does he really have issues with the coach? Also, it's a good point made that he hasn't simply come out and say he is going to play. I think if there any reason why he won't play, they must be physically motivated.

[I. Tristeza]

I check out this Truth & Rumors column quite a bit, and (for all sports) it always posts something that ends up being miles from the truth (hence, the title of the column). Nedved is not retiring on the eve of the World Cup.

[CbR]

i didnt even bother reading it bc barring a horrific injury he WILL be there in June.....unless he pulls a Roy Keane 2002..then thats a different story

[Ddwyer]

don't get me wrong. I hope he retires. Crazier things have happend. Expecially if he doesn't have a good relationship with the coach. Remember Ireland four years ago.

[mschofield]

Italian newspapers can generate a lot of attention by making up a rumor like this, as they consider Czech their prime rival to win the group, and Nedved is their best known player. To me, it just sounds too much like the Zidane rumor (which appears to be true, at least he says it is), with the "before the cup" bit tossed on for good measure. He may well be leaving Juve, or being replaced at Juve, but this would be a blow to the Czech Rep, and while he's under no obligation to play a WC, I doubt he'd try to damage team morale by waiting until late April/may to make the announcement.
Still, stranger things have happened.
As an aside, I'd rather the US play Czech with him in the lineup, and he's at his best.

[AGF Aarhus]

Nedved has already 'retired' from international football. He came out of retirement to play in the playoff against Norway. At that time he said he was only coming out of retirement for those two games. He has not said since then that he will stay out of retirement to play in the World Cup.

Having said that, I can't image he won't play.

[bltleo]

looks like this news is really only rumor. Czech press did not menion it today either. No news about Nedved and his retirement. In the opposite there are another news about Nedved.

bltleo
GERMANY