Grønkjær and Jørgensen bow out

Midfielders Jesper Grønkjær and Martin Jørgensen have announced their retirement from international football in the wake of Denmark's FIFA World Cup exit, with 80 and 99 caps respectively.

A 3-1 loss to Japan on Thursday ended Denmark's hopes of progress from the group stage, first time in four World Cup final tournament appearances they have missed out on the last 16. It marked the end of the road for FC København player Grønkjær. "I made this decision a long time ago," he said. "There comes a time when you have to stop. I will be 33 soon. I think I have given what I could for the national team over a long period of time."

AGF Aarhus's Jørgensen is 34, and is retiring despite being just one appearance short of 100 caps. "I have known all along that once the World Cup was over for us, it would be the end for me," he said. "Of course, it is a bit frustrating to end on 99 caps, but it would not be fair to carry on just to get to 100." Denmark meet Iceland in their first UEFA EURO 2012 qualifier on 9 September.