NUREMBURG, Germany (Reuters) -- U.S. captain Claudio
Reyna has called time on his international career after the team's
World Cup exit on Thursday and could soon be followed by striker
Brian McBride and maybe even coach Bruce Arena.
"I'm probably done," Reyna told reporters after his team
lost 2-1 to Ghana in their final Group E match. "That's it."
The curtain-call was bitter-sweet for Reyna, 32, who came
off just before halftime after straining his left knee ligaments
having lost possession in the lead up to Ghana's first goal.
He then had to watch from the bench as the U.S. slipped to
defeat after a dubious penalty awarded against them deep into
first-half stoppage time by German referee Markus Merk.
"I knew pretty much before (the tournament) that this would
be the last World Cup for me," said the midfielder.
Reyna and goalkeeper Kasey Keller became the first Americans
to feature in four World Cups when they played at these finals.
"For me, the right time (to retire) is now. The next World
Cup is far away. I just wanted to play this as the last World
Cup," he added.
Reyna's error gifted Ghana the lead as he received a back
pass from Clint Dempsey and collided with Haminu Dramani who
took the ball and raced into the U.S. area to slot home.
Forward McBride, bidding to score in three consecutive
finals, hinted that he too would retire from the national team
and told reporters he would make an announcement soon.
Coach Bruce Arena is in his eighth year in charge of the
national team and under contract to the U.S. federation until
December. He would not say if he would be stepping down.
"I have some other opportunities that I need to examine as
well," he told reporters. "But that's not important right now."
Arena, the longest serving coach at the finals, plans to
address the media on Friday at the U.S. hotel in Hamburg.
Reyna's decision to step down, while not formally announced,
comes as no surprise based on his history of injuries.
A veteran of four World Cups, Reyna did not see any action
in 1994 but featured prominently in the other three tournaments.
In 2002, he helped lead the U.S. to the quarterfinals.
Reyna, who was made national team captain in 1999, has won
112 caps and scored eight goals. He remains one of a handful of
Americans players to have thrived in Europe.
In the past 12 years he has played for Bayer Leverkusen, Vfl
Wolfsburg, Rangers and Sunderland before joining Manchester City
in 2003.
