Giggs brings down curtain on Wales

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CARDIFF, Wales -- Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs announced his retirement from international soccer with Wales on Wednesday.

He hopes that the decision will prolong his club career.

The 33-year-old Giggs will play his 64th -- and last -- game for Wales on Saturday in a European Championship qualifier against the Czech Republic in Cardiff.

"I have loved playing for my country and I have loved captaining my country," Giggs told a news conference.

"I think it's the right time to do this. It wasn't an easy decision for me."

Giggs will continue his career at Manchester United, where he is the club's longest serving player and has won a record nine Premier League titles.

"I think it helps myself definitely because I get the breaks in the season and it helps Man United because I'm playing less football," Giggs said.

"And for Wales, I don't think I've been playing as well as I should have, so all three parties will benefit from this.

"Hopefully I am fresher and I can enjoy the last two or three years of my career."

Despite his success with United, Giggs has never played in a World Cup or European Championship with Wales. The Welsh have not qualified for a major international tournament since the 1958 World Cup.

"I have had a successful time at club level and that has not been the case in my international career, as we haven't qualified," Giggs said.

"You want to play against the best players in tournaments and I have not done that but I have had a great career and hopefully there is still a lot to come. I am not going to sit here and moan."

Select group

Giggs joins a select group of standout players never to feature at a major championship -- including George Best of Manchester United and Northern Ireland; Alfredo di Stefano, of Real Madrid, Argentina and Spain; and George Weah of AC Milan and Liberia.

Giggs made his Wales debut against Germany in October 1991 at age 17 years, 321 days. At the time, he was the youngest-ever Wales international. He became captain in 2004 and has scored 12 goals in his Wales career.

"It has been a privilege to have him as my captain, he has always set a terrific example to all the young lads in the squad," Wales coach John Toshack said. "We shall certainly miss him.

"I think we are talking about a very special person here, 16 years on the international scene under quite a bit of pressure when he plays for Wales -- probably more than when he does for his club."

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