http://www.thefa.com/England/SeniorTeam/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2004/08/PaulScholes_InternationalRetirement.htm

29 is a little young to be retiring from International football IMO and I hope it does not regret this decision.

I agree that 29 is quite young to retire especially when he's still pretty fit. It's not like he's had lots of injury problems (*touch wood*). But if he wants to put his family first and spend more time with them then I respect that decision.

Also, from a purely selfish point of view, hopefully it means he'll be able to play for United for longer!

Besides he could always do a U-turn and "come out of retirement" but I've got a feeling that he won't.

It does give someone else an opportunity and if they make the most of it then even if Scholes does have a rethink he will be unlikely to force his way back in.

True, we have a few good English central midfielders who will now get more of a chance. We're still a bit stuck with that age old left hand side problem though.

He did say he'd been thinking about it for a while. So I expect he would have considered the fact that there's a few other players who could play in his position and should he change his mind then he would be unlikely to walk back into the starting 11.

It does seem a bit early to retire though but there you go.