Punky

🇨🇱 Christiane Endler’s international retirement is bittersweet. The 2022 #World11 goalkeeper announced her retirement from @LaRoja after helping the team qualify for the Pan American Games final – a final that she won’t be available for. With the FIFA international window ending on October 31st, she is required in France for club duty with @OLFeminin and their important game against Paris FC. La Roja is left without a goalkeeper for the final because second choice Antonia Canales is in the same situation with Valencia. Chilean union @ANJUFFChile has criticised the Chilean Football Federation for the administrative error and its impact on the national team’s chances of victory against Mexico in the final. The union is calling for the separation of the federation and the professional league (ANFP) due to a conflict of interest in effectively managing the development of women’s football. They currently operate as one body. Speaking after the semi-final win against the USA on Wednesday, Endler said: 🗣️ “It’s not easy to come and play for the national team, the effort it takes is not easy. Often, you put your body and your career at risk to come here.” 🗣️ “What happened this week ratified my decision. You always hope that things will get better, but there is no better moment than retiring with a medal, and I hope and trust in my team-mates that it will be a gold medal.” 🗣️ “I'm always grateful for the affection of the public, and for the opportunity to have represented Chile at a World Cup, Olympic Games, and Pan American Games. I can only be grateful and give the opportunity to others to experience it as well.” 🗣️ “I would love to come back in the future, to change things, to work for women's football, maybe in a different role, we have to prepare for that. But I will always be linked to the national team, it is a great source of pride for a player, and I would like to contribute in other ways.” After 14 years and 104 caps, Endler has had an enormous impact on the development of women's football in Chile. Hold your head high, @TianeEndler 🙌