Cannavaro to retire from international stage after WC

(GSM) – Italy skipper Fabio Cannavaro is planning to retire from the national team after the conclusion of World Cup in South Africa this summer.

The 36-year-old Cannavaro, while speaking at the conclusion of the two-day training camp on Wednesday, said he’s already been labeled too old, “so I can only imagine what they would say in August.”

Cannavaro took over the captaincy when Paolo Maldini stopped playing for Italy after the 2002 World Cup. He broke Maldini’s previous record of 126 appearances with the Azzurri last year, and currently has 132.

On the night of his 100th appearance at the 2006 World Cup, Cannavaro lifted the trophy for Italy.