HANOVER, June 21, 2006 (AFP) - Star striker Paulo Wanchope has sacrificed his international ambitions to keep himself fresh and fit for a possible return to European football.
The leggy Wanchope, whose direct, free-running style makes him a difficult player to mark, played his final game for Costa Rica in their 2-1 loss to Poland in the nothing-at-stake Group A encounter on Tuesday.
Wanchope is Costa Rica's all-time leading scorer with 45 goals in 72 matches but the former Manchester City striker has called it quits to concentrate on furthering his career in club football.
"I am still quite young but I am stopping because of all the travelling and hard work for the national team," said Wanchope, who will celebrate his 30th birthday on July 31. "If I do not travel for Costa Rica games it will be better (for my club career) as I would have more time to rest.
"It is difficult to play one game (overseas), spend some time with the national team and then come straight back (to Europe)."
Wanchope enjoyed successful spells in England with Derby County, West Ham and Manchester City but is currently without a club after a stint with Qatari side Al Gharafa.
Although Costa Rica exited the World Cup in the first round Wanchope did his reputation no harm with both goals in his country's 4-2 loss to hosts Germany.
"I would like to get the chance to come back and play in Europe. I will just have to wait and see. Now, I will go on holiday and rest," he said. "It would be good to play in Manchester again."
Wanchope had the ball in the net in the 81st minute for what would have been a dream equaliser in his last game but he was correctly ruled offside.
"It was an emotional day - my last official game for the team," said the striker. "I made a decision and I am sticking by it. It is time for other players to come in and do things for the country. It is a pity I did not go out with a win."
Costa Rica coach Alexandre Guimaraes, a former international who played at the 1990 World Cup, agreed that it was time to rebuild the national side.
"I have coached one generation at two World Cups (2002 and 2006) and starting now it is the time of the young players. We have to work with a new group, a lot of things have to change," said the Brazil-born Guimaraes.
Asked if he wanted or expected to be part of the international side's future plans, the under-fire Guimaraes said the decision was out of his hands.
"In a couple of days we will analyse things and discuss with the president (of the country's football association) what happened in Germany," he said. "After that I will know if it is possible or not to continue with this project."
Guimaraes added that he had been surprised that Costa Rica had lost all three matches against Germany, Ecuador and Poland and that the side had played better than the results indicated.
"I have to say those three losses were totally unexpected," he said. "We merited better results especially in the first two matches. But football is not like this, it is the final score that counts."