International Career
Redondo played for Argentina 29 times, the bulk of his appearances coming during 1992–94, while Alfio Basile was the coach.
He turned down a call-up to the national team just before the 1990 FIFA World Cup, when it was coached by Carlos Salvador Bilardo. The player excused himself on account of not wanting to interrupt his law studies, but some say that he refused to play for Bilardo because he did not agree with his ultra-defensive strategy. His national side debut came on 18 June 1992, in a 2-0 victory against Australia.
Redondo shone in the 1994 World Cup but, after Maradona was expelled for failing a drugs test, the Tenerife midfielder was unable to prevent the two-time world champions from falling at the round of 16, 3–2 at the hands of Romania.
In 1998, Argentina's coach Daniel Passarella excluded Redondo from the World Cup squad, stating: "Twice he was asked to play for the national team and twice he refused and gave a different reason each time. Then he announced publicly he did not want to play for the national team and I do not pick any player who does not want to play for Argentina." Redondo later explained: "I was in great form. But he had particular ideas about discipline and wanted me to have my hair cut. I didn't see what that had to do with playing football so I said no again."
In 1999, when Argentina was coached by Marcelo Bielsa, Redondo was recalled to the national side for two friendlies against Brazil. Although Redondo was the man-of-the match in the 2–0 victory in Buenos Aires, he refused any subsequent call-ups from Bielsa, preferring to focus his energies on club football.
Read more about this topic: Fernando Redondo
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