I don't get this international retirement mullarky surely you want to play for your country for as long as you're still being picked? Isn't this the pinnacle of your career?
I don't get this international retirement mullarky surely you want to play for your country for as long as you're still being picked? Isn't this the pinnacle of your career?
Typically I would agree with you, but bowing out as the captain of a World Cup winning team is a special circumstance.
Also I don't know what his replacement is like. He could be good enough and needs to get experience. The one thing that sticks out about the Germans is that they have been contenders at almost every tournament. That must come from bringing in young players on a regular basis. That will only happen if the 'old guard' move aside. It must be nice to retire before you are shipped out and if that is going to happen soon surely it makes sense to allow his replacement a decent run at it before euro 2016.
I don't get this international retirement mullarky surely you want to play for your country for as long as you're still being picked? Isn't this the pinnacle of your career?
I don't get this international retirement mullarky surely you want to play for your country for as long as you're still being picked? Isn't this the pinnacle of your career?
Typically I would agree with you, but bowing out as the captain of a World Cup winning team is a special circumstance.
I think this is just another example of how right Germany are getting it and how many light years we are from even competing on the international stage. They obviously have a conveyor belt of talent ready to step in (ie Goetze - who Low knew back in 2010 would be ready for 2014). There's probably another Lahm ready and waiting. I would say 30 is a bit young, but the guy's probably thinking, can it get any better than this? He might hang on for the Euros in 2016, but he'll be 34 for 2018 and might not be guaranteed a starting place.
In the article the head of the German FA said he didn't try too hard to change his mind as he knew it was made up, but I also reckon in the back of his mind he was thinking 'we've got this covered'.
Basically it is another embarrassing example of the pile of crap that is the English national team. As @Nug points out, our average players hang on till the bitter end. The likes of Lampard and Gerrard remind me very much of the singer Madonna. That old dog has been past her prime since about Vogue in 1990 yet she's still thrashing around, collaborating with any contemporary pop star that her record label can find in the hope there's still some interest.
Don't get me wrong, someone like Lampard's record for Chelsea was immense, but it was in a team of other international superstars for the most part. Put these boys in the shirt with the 3 lions, compare them against the players of their generation who are at the top of their game (Xavi, Iniesta etc), they're miles away.
I'm still bitter about the world cup and England in general. I'm not looking forward to the start of the new Premiership season when Rooney gets a hat trick away at Leicester and Hamer's picking the ball out the net, the commentators are lauding him etc. I can see the likes of Wilshere involved in 30 man passing move for Arsenal at home to someone like Burnley and Jonathan Pearce saying 'he's the future of English football, playing for one of the greatest footballing teams ever, he'll learn so much and be ready to make his mark on the international stage'.
No Pearce, Arsenal always score great goals against the lesser teams, and they always bottle it when it comes to winning against the big teams, and Wilshere's only impact on the international scene to date has been to get caught smoking in a swimming pool in LA.
Personally i would like to go out on top then fade into the darkness. Be remembered as a great that someone who got long in the tooth and only selected because i was great at one point.
In fairness to Lampard and Gerrard, they will still be remembered as 'greats' purely for their club contributions - regardless of anything that happens with England.
In fairness to Lampard and Gerrard, they will still be remembered as 'greats' purely for their club contributions - regardless of anything that happens with England.
Only in England.
Internationally I can't see them being admired around the world like Seedorf/Zidane/Pirlo are.
In fairness to Lampard and Gerrard, they will still be remembered as 'greats' purely for their club contributions - regardless of anything that happens with England.
Only in England.
Internationally I can't see them being admired around the world like Seedorf/Zidane/Pirlo are.
No they won't, but they are not as good as those those three players. I suspect that they will be as well remembered as Alan Shearer, Bryan Robson and Tony Adams.
Noticed during the WC how the commentators kept banging on about if Messi wants to be a true world-class player, he has to do it on the biggest stage.
Those same commentators will be juicing up when Rooney (or any of the other England squad) scores a 5 yard tap-in and saying what a top notch player he is, blah, blah, blah.............
Disappointed with this, think a player should play as long as they can internationally, should be the biggest achievement of their career. He still has 4 years at least left in him.
Gutted he has retired from international football, has been a brilliant performer for years. Personally one of my favourite players who is world class anywhere he plays.
Would have enjoyed seeing him leading Germany out for the Euros.
Don't think it's unpatriotic at all, he's captained his country to success at the world cup, lead by example and been one of the best players at every tournament he's played in - he's got nothing to prove to anyone any more. There will be some a younger player ready to step up to the mark and develop in time for the next few tournaments I am sure - Lahm continuing to play would only hinder that development. If anything he's putting the country first knowing he would be first choice by default - so he is removing himself for the good of the team, long term.
Compare this to Gerrard - never truly impressed on the world stage, never been the same captain for his country as his club, and like it or not it was his error that specifically lead to the decisive knock-out goal... yet he's still dithering about playing again. Be decisive Stevie, one way or the other.
Comments
In the article the head of the German FA said he didn't try too hard to change his mind as he knew it was made up, but I also reckon in the back of his mind he was thinking 'we've got this covered'.
Basically it is another embarrassing example of the pile of crap that is the English national team. As @Nug points out, our average players hang on till the bitter end. The likes of Lampard and Gerrard remind me very much of the singer Madonna. That old dog has been past her prime since about Vogue in 1990 yet she's still thrashing around, collaborating with any contemporary pop star that her record label can find in the hope there's still some interest.
Don't get me wrong, someone like Lampard's record for Chelsea was immense, but it was in a team of other international superstars for the most part. Put these boys in the shirt with the 3 lions, compare them against the players of their generation who are at the top of their game (Xavi, Iniesta etc), they're miles away.
I'm still bitter about the world cup and England in general. I'm not looking forward to the start of the new Premiership season when Rooney gets a hat trick away at Leicester and Hamer's picking the ball out the net, the commentators are lauding him etc. I can see the likes of Wilshere involved in 30 man passing move for Arsenal at home to someone like Burnley and Jonathan Pearce saying 'he's the future of English football, playing for one of the greatest footballing teams ever, he'll learn so much and be ready to make his mark on the international stage'.
No Pearce, Arsenal always score great goals against the lesser teams, and they always bottle it when it comes to winning against the big teams, and Wilshere's only impact on the international scene to date has been to get caught smoking in a swimming pool in LA.
Got myself all worked up writing that. FFS.
Internationally I can't see them being admired around the world like Seedorf/Zidane/Pirlo are.
Those same commentators will be juicing up when Rooney (or any of the other England squad) scores a 5 yard tap-in and saying what a top notch player he is, blah, blah, blah.............
So 30 isn't that young to call it a day
Would have enjoyed seeing him leading Germany out for the Euros.
Compare this to Gerrard - never truly impressed on the world stage, never been the same captain for his country as his club, and like it or not it was his error that specifically lead to the decisive knock-out goal... yet he's still dithering about playing again. Be decisive Stevie, one way or the other.