Per Mertesacker has retired from international football, according to reports in Germany.
In an interview with Raphael Honigstein, set to be published in SZ.DE tomorrow, the big centre-half confirms he’s stepping down from the international scene.
Having made his debut in October 2004, Mertesacker has since won a total of 104 caps, scoring 4 goals in the process. He leaves die nationalmannschaft having been part of a World Cup winning squad.
Although he found himself left out of the team as the competition progressed, he did make a brief appearance in the final as a late substitute.
It’s obviously good news for Arsenal as he won’t be called away on international duty, but he goes out on a high having represented his country with distinction for almost 10 years.
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Thanks to @SanBorussia for the info
Surprising
This means Arsenal will now get more from him. Future skipper, no doubt.
I dunno, he basically played every game last season, we could hardly get more.
In fact he joined the “Nationalmannschaft” back in May with most minutes on pitch of any (German) player.
Since he will be 31 when the EC starts it is probably a good decision to retire from international football and focus on Arsenal. Especially since it can’t get better than winning the World Cup.
Although that might be true, it will make a difference if he doesn’t play international games.
In some of the games, he looked tired, maybe he’ll be fresh in those!
Per..fect no thumbs down, “We all love Metersacker”
I will love that photo forever
Hay Gays anybody know if the Besiktas match is on telly?
Can heterosexuals answer this too?
Either he’s channelling Andre Santos, or simply an honest mistake.
Of course you can!
JAJAJJAJAJAJAJJAJA *Santos*
Ignoring the context: first/away leg is on ITV here so should also be on TV in other places., 2nd leg is on a Wed so probably will be on SKY somewhere.
I look at that photo and I wonder if it shows us an insight into Shad Forsythe’s personalised training regimes.
Also, I love the “drunk face” motif on Per’s shirt.
You may need to squint at his chest a bit to see it the way I see it.
good servant and good news #afc
per-fect timing by mert? Or should’ve done it after Euro?
I don’t imagine BFG took this decision lightly. No doubt a conversation with Loew and a look at the talent emerging played into it. I think it’s class.
If it means meatlocker prolongs his career with us it’s no bad thing.
The Big Germany..#COyG#
The big thing will be he gets the rest he needs during the season. The big teams who have internationals always seem to struggle against smaller teams after the Interlulls, and the BFG can help bridge the gap now for The Arsenal!
Lahm and now Mertesacker. 30 and 29 respectively.. Feel they both had more to give to the German team
I feel they think it is time to inject some fresh players in to the team
something which spain did not do, which they paid for in this world cup
maybe it is the right time move on
Win-Win situation for all
A thumb up for the Fight Club reference in your name
That picture needs a caption. ‘Mertespacker’
I laughed, but I shouldn’t have. Shame on you and shame on me.
Yes, it’s all well and good for arsenal, but can anyone please help me understand the reasoning of Mertesacker behind this? I mean, he is only 29, he can quite easily play at the top level for at least 2-3 years, even if he is not a regular starter, but still is a valuable player for the national team, right?
Per wasn’t going to be first choice for Germany any more unfortunately. We saw that at the WC, Per got dropped as soon as Lahm moved to RB. Hummels and Boateng will presumably be first choice now, Howedes providing able backup, and Ginter and Mustafi snapping at their heels. Per’s 30 soon, he’s a WC winner, he’s been part of a great German team and won nearly 100 caps for them, and he figured he wanted to bow out on his own terms. Everything said, Per is a great defender and if he’s got more time for The Arsenal now,… Read more »
I agree to some extent, except that I don’t think he wasn’t ‘first choice’. I think he was dropped for tactical reasons, Boateng is faster, Hummels and Mertesacker together are too slow to have the high line Löw favors, hence Neuer making tackles outside his box! He still would have played probably 60% of Germany’s game, in my opinion, judging by the last three tournaments.
He just wants to go out at the top. Anything after this would likely be an anticlimax as he would likely not be first choice by the time the next lot of finals come around.
Also, I’d love to know if Shad had any input or influence on his decision.
I was a bit surprised given he is only 29 but I can fully understand he wants to leave on a high note.
And hey, anything to prevent him from banjaxing himself in the upcoming interlulls is great news so far as I am concerned.
Poor decision imho.
Thikn he has lots more to offer to the German NT.
He always has a lot to offer, there’s a reason we love him so. But I don’t think it’s a “good” or “bad” decision per se, it’s just one that’s understandable and seems quite rational to me. It’s not as if the Germans are short on talented, level-headed players. Per is fantastic but he has over 100 caps to his name, he won the World Cup, and he feels that there is enough talent in the squad to not have to be one of the options going forward. I can respect that, it’s mature and consistent with his philosophies. Besides,… Read more »
If he’s based the decision on the ideas that:
he feels he has achieved everything at the international level he wanted to do
he could go out on a high
can see the upcoming talent means he isn’t leaving his nation in the lurch
and finally feels it would mean it prolongs his club career, where there are things he has not achieved.
It had to be a good decision. If not, maybe not so good, but I doubt he hasn’t thought this through.
29 years old, too young to retire surely, given he is not a pacey player?
Not complaining from an Arsenal viewpoint though.
Nasri just retired at 26 (Lol!)
I feel sorry for Nasri. Having both the French manager and all the other French players saying you are a c*nt can’t be easy.
Especially when you aren’t clever enough to stop being a c*nt.
He also looks like a weird lil girl on the telly sometimes… i think its his eyes
less retired as such as tossed the toys from the pram on a permanent basis.
Personally, I think this is good news because we would get more out of him. Other than that it’s weird now that players are retiring(not sure if spelt correct) fairly young internationally, Lahm and Mert were 30 &29 respectively and dare i say Na$ri also
It is interesting that they retire relatively young. However, both Per and Lahm played for 10 years in their national team, passing the 100 caps limit and playing in 5 and 6 tournaments respectively. For comparison, Gerrard retired at 34 and had the same number of appearances as Lahm and just 10 more than Per. Maybe there is a point where you’ve felt you’ve given enough to your country and after winning a WC looks like a good point for that. Plus, they are aided by the fact that there is lots of talent coming behing them and by retiring… Read more »
Whatever the reason for his decision, it’s right. I’m not arguing with him anyway.
Okay now it is BFG- Big F***ing Gooner
Going out on a high:) after over a century of appearances for Germany. Good for Arsenal. Hope he helps us win the title this season.
Wow! I didn’t see that coming at all! All the more BFG for us then!
He could easily play in the next Euros and possibly even the next World Cup if he wanted to.
Nice to know he’s all ours now though. I suppose once you’ve won the World Cup you could probably think
“Well, I can’t really top that now.”
Our coming run of quadruples will surely top that.
I meant on the international stage. Obviously.
Goodluck BFG
Saw a video today of a spur fan trying a cocky trick outside Emirates then ends up breaking his arm. Rather spectacularly
Epic Fail !!!
No link.
You’re just a tease, you are.
Well I did want Germany to win the world cup but to be honest cheering for a nation changes with every world cup. So wont question his retirement as it means more rest for BFG during the interlull.
Looking forward to see the captain and the vice captain spending more quality time.
Per attempting the Sturridge dance in the photo…
PERfecting the Sturridge dance*
How do you know it’s not Sturridge attempting the Per dance? And failing completely.
Great news for us the big mans gone out on a high and can fully concentrate on winning trophies for the Arsenal. Only downside one less person to tap up the German talent on international breaks.
I guess the reasoning behind Lahm and Mertesacker’s decision is that they’re not exactly ditching a team that desperately needs them. Plenty of young talent coming through. Between Hummels, Boateng, Subotic and Howedes they aren’t really short on center-backs (or any position really). Now they’ve accomplished what they had to, may as well focus on their club careers.
Particularly since these youngsters have 2 complete years to develop and become a potent force without the pressure of having to oust an established member of the side.
Errr, Subotic is Serbian. Other than that, spot on 🙂
Best time for bfg to do it – at the top of the world. Great news for us. Pray he stays fit. Now bring on crystal pulisless.
Subotic? He’s even less German than Podolski
“I’m still hungry for more titles, but I want to win them with Arsenal – to win the league, perhaps have a go at the Champions League.”
That’s the spirit!
That is really surprising. At 29 he’s still quite young, especially for a defender. Also, what’s going to happen, he’ll lose pace?! Either way, 104 caps is a great achievement, and he has been a great servant to his country. This guy is one of the most professionally behaved players I’ve ever seen, and if/when Arteta closes his chapter with us, I would like him to be captain. I think he could play to 36 or 38 with us if he wants, since he’s not about the athletic side of the game. I suppose he just wants to finish on… Read more »
Don’t you think it’s a bit ridiculous to retire from internationals at 29?! As a gooner – happy. But I think players are too quick to hang up international boots. I kind of feel that if your country asks you to play, you should, no matter what (injury allowing).
But hey, maybe that’s just me
Completely and utterly agree with you. This ain’t great at all.
Nope. I think flying around the world mid-season for friendlies collecting knocks that shorten your career just to potentially sit on the bench at Euros in 2 years as the new talent comes through would be a bit ridiculous for such a Germany stalwart who has written his name in the books.
I think it’s a classy move, Arsenal or not.
Germany loss, Arsenal gain.
He also mentioned how he wants to focus on winning the Premier League with Arsenal and trying to win the Champions League.
He’s won the World Cup and got a bit of domestic success with the FA cup, so now he wants more!
Gotta love him.
I love this guy. I never buy kits with names on them, only numbers, but let’s say that the 6 home and 4 away shirts I have were not chosen randomly.
I love 6 home, but his comments are getting a little tiresome, don’t you think?
Nein.
BFG! Debuted in 2004, retired in 2014, scored 4 goals in 104 appearances wearing the number 4 shirt!
I was going to make some sort of joke about his all-around per-four-mance but then I realized that it made me hate myself.
Clearly a number that worked out well for him though.
He also helped Germany to win their 4th World Cup
Except he always wore 17 for Germany. : )
You Per-ty pooper!!!
What a BFG!!! Congrats on a great international career. 104 caps for Germany is an amazing accomplishment. Now onto becoming a legend for Arsenal.
Our BFG is the best BFG. I agree with him – now’s the time to hang it up internationally. He could probably still play in the next Euros, albeit in a reduced role, but he’d be 33 for the next World cup and that’s just too old. This way he goes out as a champion, and now he can concentrate on filling his trophy case with Arsenal trophies – starting with four more this season.
He’ll finish up here, where he belongs.
Am I the only one who thinks that from our current players, Per and Arteta are the best equiped to become managers? In fact, looking at our former players, as much as I love Bouldy and thinks he has added a lot to our newfound defensive solidity, I cannot see any others that I really believe they can become great managers as I believe it for those two. Hope one of them stays on the long term with the club and grows into the position in the future.
I am shocked by Lahm and BFG deciding to retire. I realize they both want to focus on club football, which is great, but I’m certain they were both quite capable of doing well for the national team in Euro 2016. Even if they’re not starting at that point, we all know how important good back ups are.
At any rate, I’m not complaining, as it gives him more time to stay fit for Arsenal.
I completely agree. Arteta reminds me of Roberto martinez. I dont know is it the accent or the calm,composed approach. Or it could be the sheer professionism and the ability to say tne right things. Either way I think arteta will be a top manager!
Great one on right time made by mertesacker…….. I wish he will be more on arsenal fc
http://www.sueddeutsche.de/sport/dfb-ruecktritt-von-per-mertesacker-herzensspieler-aus-der-eistonne-1.2091612
Its official
It is good to have world cup winning players and competing stars at world cup in gunners team coyg for the new season afc.
Maybe Manchester United should change their name to:
Mahahaha ha ha ha hahah ha United
It would suit them much better.
Classy decision!
“Having more time off for your legs and your head is not a bad thing in that respect – especially at my old age.”
I want to be soo old again!