Ryan Giggs retires from international football

Ryan Giggs retired from international football today, captaining Wales in a 0-0 draw against the Czech Republic. He nearly signed off with a goal, slaloming through Czech defenders before shooting straight at the keeper, which unfortunately sums up his international career.

The above Fast Show sketch – made when Giggs was still a young starlet – asks the question: is Ryan Giggs the new George Best? Unfortunately he now shares with Best the dubious honour of never appearing in a World Cup or European Championship finals.

Seems Giggs is following the example of his Manchester United buddy Paul Scholes, who stopped playing for England in order to focus on his club commitments (with impressive results this season.)

Not everyone has been happy with Giggs’ international contributions though. After making his debut as a 17 year old in 1991 Euro Championship qualifier, Welsh football fans had to wait another nine years to see Giggs play in his first international friendly. Incredibly, over a 16 year international career incorporating 64 caps, Giggs never played in an away international friendly for Wales. He did play against Brazil on London, but that was technically a neutral venue.

The many missed internationals were attributed to injuries (usually hamstring) but many feel the influence of Sir Alex Ferguson is a more likely explanation. I’ll split the difference and say a little from column A, a little from column B. In Giggs’ defence it takes something special to stay on Fergie’s good side for over a decade and a half, as David Beckham, Jaap Stam, Ruud van Nistelrooy and many others know only too well.

The upside is that we, the football viewing public, will get to see Giggs – now 33 – dancing down the wing (and more recently through the middle) for at least a couple more seasons yet.

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Category: English Premier League, World Football