Craig Bellamy announces retirement after World Cup Qualifiers

Craig Bellamy has announced that he will retire from International football after Wales have played their final World Cup qualifiers match.

The 34-year-old has 76 caps and was widely expected to call quits before the start of qualifying for 2016.

Tuesday’s game in Brussels will bring down the curtain on a 15-and-a-half-year international career which began with a substitute appearance against Jamaica at Cardiff’s old Ninian Park home.

“This is the last week of my Wales career, I will not play in November,” he said.

“To play 70-odd times has been the best, even with the disappointments, the lows and the times I did not want to play again, because defeats can do that to you.

“But to have the honour of going out and singing the anthem 70-odd times…it’s different, it’s the best and I hope I get the chance to do it on Friday and again on Tuesday.

“I am just grateful for every game I have been lucky enough to play for my country and I really mean that.

“I can’t tell you how I will feel playing my final home game on Friday. The emotion of it will probably hit me more later on, when I am watching the team, but I have to do what is best for the national team and this group of players are the future.

“The next qualifying campaign is another two years. I am not going to see it, and for this group of players, with the talent they have, to have the best shot, I have to cut myself short and I have to be realistic.”

Craig Bellamy is the third-highest capped player for the Welsh side, after Neville Southall and Gary Speed.