butina was able to keep his place as the team's first-choice goalkeeper throughout the 2006 world cup qualifying, playing in the first eight qualifiers, though pletikosa played the final two. butina was also part of the croatia's 23-man squad at the world cup in germany, but once again remained an unused substitute in all of the team's three group matches, as pletikosa was first-choice. he announced his retirement from the national team a few weeks after the tournament, citing his desire to concentrate on club career and to spend more time with his family.