Milan, Italy – Italy striker Antonio Cassano has announced that he will retire from the sport in 2014.
The 29-year-old scored two goals in Tuesday's 3-0 win over Northern Ireland in Euro 2012 qualification, taking his total to six goals in 10 qualifying matches.
Despite his recent run of success, Cassano has been capped by Italy just 25 times during his career, but he is hoping for a more consistent run in the national team before his career is over.
"I hope that from now until the World Cup I can have continuity in the national team and then I will stop," Cassano told Rai Sport.
"I want to do a good Euro 2012, a good World Cup and then I will retire. I will retire at 33 to enjoy my family. Football has been the most beautiful thing in the world for me but now I am a little tired.
"I want three more good years and then that's it because if I continue beyond that, it will become a routine and routine stresses me."
Cassano has featured for Italy in Euro 2004 and Euro 2008, while he was left off the 2006 and 2010 World Cup teams.
