Silva ends international career

Silva's career statistics

Portsmouth striker Dario Silva has announced his international retirement after Uruguay's failure to qualify for next year's World Cup finals.

The 33-year-old had intended to bow out after the finals but has brought his decision forward after Uruguay's play-off defeat by Australia.

Silva said: "It would have been nice to play my last game in the World Cup.

"But we didn't qualify and it has hit me hard," he told Uruguayan television show Las Voces del Futbol.

Silva came on early in the first leg after an injury to Diego Forlan but was an unused substitute in Sydney.

"I thought that I would have played against Australia, but now the most important thing is the future of the Uruguayan team," added Silva, who has also played for Sevilla, Cagliari, Espanyol and Malaga.

"Uruguay have a lot of young good players and they will defend Uruguayan colours in the next few years."

Silva, who played in the 2002 World Cup finals, made his debut for the national side in October 1994 before going on to win 46 caps, scoring 14 goals.

Former Juventus defender Paolo Montero had already announced the end of his Uruguay career this week.