American Captain Reyna Set to Retire

American captain Claudio Reyna announced his retirement from international football on Friday, the day after his team exited the World Cup at the first hurdle. The American playmaker, who turns 33 on July 20, said that it would be difficult for him to maintain his level of play for another four years until the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. "I believe therefore that ending my international career now is the best thing to do," said Reyna, who plays for English Premiership outfit Manchester City. Reyna is a three-time finals veteran and won 112 caps while he captained the side from 1999 including the 2002 finals - where he became the first American to be named in the team of the tournament - where they reached the quarter-finals before losing to eventual finalists Germany.

American coach Bruce Arena -- who has also hinted he may step down after the Americans drew one and lost two of their group matches -- paid fulsome tribute to Reyna, who made his international debut back in 1994. "Reyna has been a pioneer for American soccer and will be very difficult to replace," said the 54-year-old, whose association with Reyna goes back to the days when he coached him at the University of Virginia.