By Sonia Oxley
HAMBURG, June 22 - Czech Republic midfielder Pavel
Nedved's international future was in doubt after their World Cup
elimination on Thursday.
"I don't want to say anything, it has happened to me once
before and I'd prefer to leave it open," the 33-year-old told
reporters after the 2-0 Group E defeat by Italy.
Nedved came out of international retirement to help the
Czechs qualify for the World Cup, returning for the two-legged
playoffs against Norway in November.
He said on Thursday he had not ruled out the possibility of
retiring from soccer completely.
Nedved said the problems at his club Juventus were also
causing him anxiety.
"If I am not playing at the top level, I don't think I can
play for the national side," he said, answering "yes" when asked
if he had considered quitting playing altogether.
Italy's football prosecutor has ordered Juventus, AC Milan,
Lazio and Fiorentina to stand trial in the nation's biggest
sports scandal in a quarter of a century.
The Football Federation said on Thursday that prosecutor
Stefano Palazzi had charged a total of 30 "subjects" for
sporting fraud and violations of fairness and probity, charges
which can be punished by fines, bans and relegations.
Nedved was the inspirational heartbeat for the Czechs
against Italy, his 90th cap.
He had the best chances but was thwarted by Juventus team
mate Gianluigi Buffon, who made four superb saves from Nedved.
"I was trying but he is a great goalkeeper. He and Petr Cech
are two of the best goalkeepers in the world," said Nedved.