Euro 2012: Czech striker Milan Baros retires after defeat

Published on 23/06/2012 00:12

CZECH striker Milan Baros, who scored 41 times in 93 appearances for his country, retired from international football following the 1-0 Euro 2012 quarter-final defeat by Portugal.

Baros, top scorer at Euro 2004 but more recently the target of fans’ abuse for a goal drought as well as his off-field antics, was expected to retire from the national team following the Czechs run to the last eight. The Czechs lost out to a 79th-minute Cristiano Ronaldo goal in Warsaw on Thursday.

“After the team’s elimination, Baros announced in the changing room that he is finishing with the national team,” a statement from the Czech football federation said. “The 30-year-old striker has been under sharp criticism for a long time, culminating in the first Euro match against Russia when he was substituted toward the end and some fans booed him.”

A bigger loss for the team would be captain Tomas Rosicky, who missed the Portugal game due to injury. The Arsenal midfielder and the creative force behind the Czech attack said injuries were taking their toll and he was considering whether or not to continue with the national team.