Tim Sparv, who captained Finland to their first major finals at Euro 2020, announced his retirement from football on Monday.
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“I have given everything that I was physically able to and gone as far as I possibly could,” the 34-year-old said in a video message.

Sparv made his debut for Finland in 2009 and went on to win 84 caps, helping the “Eagle Owls” to make history as they qualified for their first-ever major finals.

He led them against Denmark in the Euro 2020 opener, a game they won but which was overshadowed by the collapse on the field of Danish playmaker Christian Eriksen, who suffered a heart attack.
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Finland went on to lose to Russia and Belgium to finish third in their group, missing out to the Danes on goal difference for a place in the last 16.

The midfielder, who spent six seasons at Danish Superliga club Midtjylland, scored only once for Finland, during a 2012 friendly against Northern Ireland.

“At least I got one!” Sparv joked in his farewell video.

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