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Mertesacker calls time on Germany career

Germany defender Per Mertesacker has drawn the curtain on his international career after 104 appearances, the last coming in their FIFA World Cup triumph in Brazil.

Per Mertesacker's international career ©Getty Images

Germany defender Per Mertesacker has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 29.

Capped 104 times, the Arsenal FC centre-back is the third player from the 2014 FIFA World Cup-winning Germany team to call time on international football, following on from captain Philipp Lahm and the finals' all-time top goalscorer Miroslav Klose.

In a newspaper interview with Süddeutsche Zeitung, Mertesacker said: "I want to become champion with Arsenal and, maybe, attack in the Champions League. The World Cup in Brazil was a golden end to my career in the German national team.

"For me it was important after ten years in the national team to determine this final chapter myself," added the former Hannover 96 and SV Werder Bremen player, who made his final appearance for his country as a late substitute in the World Cup final against Argentina. "There are many young players to come in the next years so we don't have to be afraid. We are better manned than ever."

Mertesacker made his debut for Germany as a 20-year-old when selected for a friendly against Iran by Jürgen Klinsmann and went on to play at three World Cups and UEFA EURO 2008. He scored four goals and was only booked once in his entire spell with the national team.

Germany start their UEFA EURO 2016 qualifying campaign against Scotland in Dortmund on 7 September.

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