Interesting news coming out of Hungary this morning. It appears as though Zoltan Gera has retired from international football after being left out of the Hungarian side that played Denmark last night.

The Fulham midfielder, who had won 63 caps for his country, had struggled to hold down a regular place in the starting line-up for Hungary recently and came to the decision after a discussion with national coach Erwin Koeman.

I told Erwin Koeman that I don’t consider myself as a member of the squad anymore. I’m ready to face the consequences. My close friends know that this is not a headstrong decision from me.

In the past months I felt it several times that the national coach doesn’t really believe in me and there were many things that were undeserving with me. I did my best and I accepted when my captain’s armand was taken away from me and I had to sit on the bench. I tried to prove my abilities with extra resolve.

The coach told me on Wednesday that I wouldn’t play against Denmark (not even from the bench). This time I decided to tell him my decision and added that I don’t want to bother the team in the evening with my presence. I don’t say that the decision will last until the end of my career because it can happen in the far future that my name will be in the national team again – but it can also happen that I’ll never play again.

Hungary finished fourth in the European Qualifying Group One and missed out on the Wolrd Cup finals having been well-placed in the group at one stage. Gera’s decision will perhaps leave him able to focus on his Fulham career, which has shown signs of springing into life this season.