Slovenia goalkeeper Samir Handanovic has announced his retirement from international football with immediate effect.
Slovenia goalkeeper Samir Handanovic has announced his retirement from international football with immediate effect.
This decision comes just after the national team failed to qualify for the Euro 2016 following an aggregate defeat against Ukraine. Slovenia could only manage a 1-1 draw in the second leg. A 2-0 defeat in the first leg meant that they have gone out in the play-off places following a 3-1 aggregate defeat. Reaching the Euro 2016 was a big deal for the national team. It would have been a confirmation of the progress that they have made in recent years.
The national team has improved a lot in terms of the quality of players, who was starting to represent big teams in European football. Samir Handanovic is a perfect example after having featured heavily for Inter Milan in recent years. He came to Inter in 2012 and long time after making his debut for the national team. Samir Handanovic has been a regular at various stages of the international team. He has represented the likes of Slovenia under 19 and Slovenia under 21 before making his national team debut in 2004. Since he has decided to hang his boots, it gives a great opportunity for Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak to improve his status within the game even further.
Oblak was the replacement for Thibaut Courtois at Atletico. He has been equally good and has been labelled as one of the world’s most exciting young goalkeepers. “All I can say is that I am done with the national team,” said Handanovic, who will now focus more with Inter. “I must always be ready to give my contribution. Saving chances is my job, but I do hope to have less work to do when Inter win,” said the goalkeeper ahead of the match against Frosinone.