Cannavaro to step downVeteran defender to quit Italy after World Cup
Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro has announced that he will retire from international football after this summer's World Cup.The 36-year-old centre-half has been capped a record 132 times for the Azzurri and has been called up to the Italy squad for every major tournament since 1998.
He was forced to pull out of Euro 2008 because of an injury sustained in training but is expected to start in the heart of Marcello Lippi's defence once more this year.
But he will call time on a stellar international career once his side have come to the end of their road in South Africa.
He said: "They already say I'm too old, so I can only imagine what they would say in August."
Italy have been drawn in Group F for this year's competition, alongside Paraguay, New Zealand and Slovakia.
Cannavaro is currently taking part in a three-day training camp with the Azzurri as manager Lippi considers who he will choose for his 23-man squad this summer.
On Italy's chances in Africa, Cannavaro added: "We're hoping to bring home the cup again, this time to keep it."
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