Barcelona FC defender Carles Puyol says he has no intention of retiring from international football as he nears his 100th cap for Spain.
The current world champions have already qualified for Euro 2012, but are out to make it eight wins in a row as they meet Scotland in Group I on Tuesday.
Puyol, 33, who has won 95 caps for Spain and who has recently returned from a knee injury that put him out of action for six months, has hinted that he wanted to play on beyond the century milestone.
“I feel good. Every day I feel better, but I have to take it day by day because it’s been a very long injury so I have to be patient,” the Barcelona FC defender said on Sunday.
“To be honest I feel very happy because I don’t feel pain anymore and that’s very important.”
“To get to 100 games is one of my objectives but I still have a way to go. I’m happy with the matches I’ve played and hope to get to the 100 mark soon.”
In Spain’s 2-0 win over the Czech Republic on Friday, Puyol came on as a substitute in the second half – a good sign that he is easing himself back to match fitness.
The Spain team currently hold the record for most consecutive wins (15) and most consecutive games undefeated (35), but Chelsea new boy Juan Mata said that neither he or the team were focused on breaking any records.
“We haven’t talked about it. It is true that this national team has broken a few records of matches won and trophies won,” said Juan Mata.
“It’s obviously great for all of us to be here and enjoy this great moment in Spanish football. We haven’t talked about records because we think it’s better to break them than to talk about them.”
Another piece of good news for Barca fans is that Spanish team coach Vicente Del Bosque has chosen to play keeper Víctor Valdés over usual stand in Pepe Reina.
see u soon