Burak Yılmaz announces retirement from international football after penalty shocker
"It was my last game today. I think I'm going to wake up every night until the end of my life thinking I'm scoring this penalty," Turkish captain Burak Yılmaz told a press conference after the 3-1 loss to Portugal.
- Sports
- AFP
- Published Date: 01:46 | 25 March 2022
- Modified Date: 01:51 | 25 March 2022
Turkish captain Burak Yılmaz has announced his retirement from international football after missing a crucial late penalty in the 3-1 defeat by Portugal in Thursday's World Cup play-off.
The 36-year-old could have levelled the scores -- he had pulled one back for the Turks after they trailed 2-0 -- but he put his 85th minute spot-kick over the bar.
Matheus Nunes secured Portugal's victory in stoppage time.
"It was my last game today," he told a press conference after the match.
"I think I'm going to wake up every night until the end of my life thinking I'm scoring this penalty," he added.
Yılmaz -- who scored 31 times in 77 international appearances -- said he was "sad" to end his career with the national team after the defeat.
Turkey have not appeared at the World Cup since coming third in the 2002 edition.
Yılmaz played for the three Istanbul giants -- Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray and appeared at both Euro 2016 and 2020.