体坛英语新闻：Barca defender Pique draws curtain on international career

MADRID, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona defender Gerard Pique confirmed his retirement from international football on Saturday.

Speaking in the press conference ahead of Sunday's Spanish Supercup between Barca and Sevilla, the 31-year-old drew the curtain in a career which has seen him represent Spain on 103 occasions, playing a major role in the country's 2010 World Cup win and their triumph in the 2012 European Championships.

Pique had hinted previously that he was considering ending an international career which started in a friendly against England in 2009 and ended with Spain's defeat on penalties to Russia in the last 16 of this summer's World Cup finals in Russia.

The defender has at times been a controversial figure in Spain and was booed by fans in some grounds after some political comments about his native Catalan region, but his commitment to the Spanish cause on the pitch could never be doubted and he was first choice for the Spanish national team whenever fit.

In his press conference he said that he had informed new Spain coach (and former Barca boss) Luis Enrique of his decision and that it was "well thought out."

"It was a great period in which I won a World Cup and a European Championship, but now I am going to concentrate on Barcelona. The longer I play there, the better," he said.