Fred retires from Brazil duty

Cape Town - Brazil striker Fred has announced his retirement from international football.

His retirement came shortly after Brazil ended their nightmare 2014 Soccer World Cup performance with a 3-0 defeat to the Netherlands. 

Fred, 30, bore the brunt of an angry home crowd after several dismal performances where the striker managed to find the back of the net just once in six games in a Brazil side that craved leadership up front.

Fred was booed off loudly in the disastrous 7-1 semi-final defeat to Germany and was left out of the side for the third/fourth playoff against the Netherlands.

In fairness, his replacement in that game, Jo, was equally poor.

"For me, the Selecao is finished," Fred told Brazilian newspaper Estado de Sao Paulo on Sunday.

Fred made his debut for Brazil in 2005 and scored 18 goals in 39 games.