Viduka considering international future
Mark Viduka has revealed he is considering retiring from international football after the World Cup.
The Middlesbrough and Australia striker has said that a combination of family reasons and concerns over frequent long-distance travel could prompt him to quit the Socceroos later this year.
“I have one kid and a second one on the way,” Viduka told The Sunday Age.
“I miss my family when I have to go away.”
Australia are switching from the Oceania region to Asia from this year, and will take part in the Asian Cup qualifiers after the World Cup. This will increase the already extensive travel requirements for English-based players, and Viduka believes it could be too much for his ageing body.
“For players from Europe, they only have a three or four-hour flight, but I have to travel to the other side of the world. It takes a week to recover,” he said.
“There will be a lot of games with the Asian Cup and I might be away every month. I have to think of the pros and cons. I am thinking about my future with the national team and the results at this World Cup could be very important to that.”
The 30-year-old has played 32 times for his country, scoring six goals.
