BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona captain Carles Puyol has decided to keep playing for World Cup champion Spain for at least another two years.
Puyol says on his website that he wants to help Spain defend its European crown in 2012. Puyol says he made the decision to defer international retirement after talks with Spain coach Vicente del Bosque and sporting director Fernando Hierro.
The 32-year-old defender started each of Spain’s games at the World Cup in South Africa and scored with a header in a 1-0 semifinal win over Germany.
Puyol has scored three goals in 90 appearances since his debut in 2000 and was part of Spain’s winning team at the 2008 European Championship.
