The midfielder Sergio Busquets, a fundamental piece of the Red’s game for years, announced this Friday his retirement from the Spain team, after his last participation in the Qatar-2022 World Cup.
“I would like to announce that after almost 15 years and 143 matches, the time has come to say goodbye to the national team“, wrote Busquets on their social networks.
“It has been an honor to represent my country and take it to the top, to be a World and European championbeing Captain and playing so many games, with more or less success but always giving everything”, added the Barcelona midfielder.
Busquets recalls that he always sought to contribute his “grain of sand so that everything was the best possible and that everyone felt how important they are, helping everyone and fighting for the same goal, with unique, unforgettable and historic experiences.”
“I still get goosebumps thinking about it. I will miss him a lot (seeing the squad list, greeting my teammates, enjoying the training sessions, the endless pocha games, going out to play, but not before shouting together, listening to the national anthem hugging or feeling the affection of a whole country),” he explained.
The captain of the Red, who He played his last match with the colors of his country on December 6 in the defeat on penalties against Morocco (3-0 after a 0-0 draw) in the round of 16 of the World Cup in Qatar, he was full of thanks to his coaches, fans, teammates and workers around the team.
– Third player with the most caps for La Roja –
Busquets, 34, leaves the Spanish team as the third player who has worn the national shirt the most times, only behind Sergio Ramos (180 matches) and Iker Casillas (167), with whom he shares the World Cup match record with Spain (17 games).
Author of two goals with the red shirt, the midfielder was the last survivor of the team that won the World Cup in 2010in addition to also integrating the team that won the Eurocup in 2012.
Busquets made his debut with La Roja, at the age of 20, precisely in a qualifying match for the World Cup in South Africa against Turkey, which Spain won 2-1 in Istanbul on April 1, 2009.
then escorted by Andres Iniesta Y Xavi Hernandezhis current coach at Barça, gradually became the heart of La Roja’s game, a role he maintained until his last performances in Qatar.
In the center of the field, Busquets is a bulwark to stop the opponent’s attacks, while his vision of the game makes him essential when distributing the ball and directing the game.
“He is an offensive midfielder who exerts high pressure, who improves every play that passes through his feet and who is a show defensively,” explained former Spanish coach Luis Enrique during the last Euro Cup.
Since his debut, Busquets’ presence in La Roja’s midfield has been essential in four World Cups (South Africa-2010, Brazil-2014, Russia-2018 and Qatar-2022), as well as in the Eurocopas of 2012, 2016 and 2020.
