Kroos retires from Germany national team after Euros exit

Berlin, Jul 2 (EFE).- Germany midfielder Toni Kroos on Friday announced he was retiring from international football just days after the team was knocked out of Euro 2020.

The Real Madrid player, who won the 2014 World Cup with Germany, made the announcement in a social media post.

“I’ve played for Germany 106 times. There won’t be another time,” he said in a statement.

“I would have dearly wished, and I gave everything again, that there would have been 109 internationals in the end,” he added, referring to Germany being knocked out by England in the last-16 of this year’s Euros, three games short of the final.

He added that he wants to focus on his career with Real Madrid and spend more time with his family.

Kroos is among a number of senior German internationals who could call time on their careers with Die Mannschaft, including veterans Thomas Mueller, Mats Hummels and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

Away from international duty, Kroos, 31, has won four Champions League trophies with LaLiga powerhouse Real Madrid.

The playmaker began his career rising through the youth ranks at Bayern Munich, but a lack of first team opportunities saw him go on loan to Bayer Leverkusen for 18 months before he returned to Bavaria, where he enjoyed a starring role in midfield as Bayern won the 2013 Champions League.

He left for the Spanish giants in 2014.EFE

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