Time to step down - Given
Aston Villa,
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Aston Villa goalkeeper Shay Given has admitted he may retire from international football with the Republic of Ireland after Euro 2012.
The veteran custodian has been singled out for some criticism during the tournament in Poland and Ukraine as the Irish are already out with one Group C clash remaining against Italy on Monday.
And Given, who was blamed for some of the goals conceded in the defeats to Croatia and Spain, feels it is now time to hand the number one jersey over to a younger man having become his country's most capped player with 124 caps to date.
"I think it might be time to step aside and let somebody else come into the side," he said.
"It's all a bit raw at the moment because we've lost an important game but at some point I'm going to have to make a decision."
Meanwhile, Given claims world and reigning European champions Spain are one of the best teams Giovanni Trapattoni's side have ever come up against following the 4-0 defeat.
"I don't think any team has ripped us apart like Spain have," he added.
"It's a credit to the way they play, the system, the way they pass and move and the mobility.
"They're a fantastic team. We said before the game that we knew what was coming. It's all very well having a gameplan but you've got to implement it and we didn't do that well enough.
"Spain are a great side, they have so much movement off the ball, pulling you one way to create space for someone else to come into.
"They're incredibly hard to defend against. I think they showed in the second half why they are the defending champions and they're going to be hard to beat again."


