Of course, he might retire AFTER the World Cup. Fans should not worry, he will be playing at this World Cup. Anyway, he feels that he is now too old to keep playing at the same level.

Viduka said that Australia’s performance at the World Cup would influence his decision, but the prospect of increased travel as the Socceroos attempt to qualify for next year’s Asian Cup may convince him to call it quits.

The 30-year-old Middlesbrough striker told newspaper The Sunday Age: “I have one child and a second one on the way. I miss my family when I’m away.

“I’m thinking about my future with the national team and the results this summer could be important to that.”

Australia will take part in the Asian Cup qualifiers later this year after their switch from the Oceania region.

He added: “For players from Europe, they only have a three or four-hour flight, but I have to travel to the other side of the world. It takes a week to recover.

“There will be a lot of games with the Asian Cup and I might be away every month. I have to think of the pros and cons.”

Viduka has scored six goals in 32 appearances for Australia.

Australia held the Netherlands to a 1-1 draw in Rotterdam on Sunday as part of their warm-up campaign for Germany 2006 after their 8-1 win over Dutch amateur side V.V. Kloetinge last week.

He will be surely missed by fans, since he is an icon for his team and, I might add my personal impression, he is quite a fighter (I had the unfortunate chance to see him against Steaua Bucharest in the semifinal of the UEFA Cup - I am a Steaua fan, in case you missed the idea). Being a fighter is a great thing for a player, in my book, and I greatly appreciate it.

Source: WCoffsite