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Smisek to end Germany career

Germany forward Sandra Smisek will not go to UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™ next summer after announcing that she will bow out of international football after their concluding qualifier in Switzerland on Wednesday.

Sandra Smisek (right) is following fellow Olympic bronze meallist Renate Lingor into international retirement
Sandra Smisek (right) is following fellow Olympic bronze meallist Renate Lingor into international retirement ©Getty Images

New job
The 31-year-old 1. FFC Frankfurt striker will win her 133rd cap in Basel, and has a tally of 33 international goals, but has decided to concentrate on her club career having recently begun work as a police officer. "I've played for Germany since 1995 and I think it's the right moment to say goodbye," said Smisek, who becomes the fourth prominent Germany player to bow out in the last 12 months after defender Sandra Minnert, goalkeeper Silke Rottenberg and midfielder Renate Lingor. "I want to focus on my new profession in the future so playing for Frankfurt and, in addition to that, playing for the national team would be too tough for me," she added.

Zwanziger tribute
Since making her international debut Smisek has been part of two FIFA Women's World Cup and three UEFA European Women's Championship triumphs and in August helped Germany to Olympic bronze in China. German Football Association president Dr Theo Zwanziger said: "Sandra Smisek is a great football player. She played at a world-class level for more than a decade. That's an absolutely fantastic effort." Germany's place in the UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™ finals in Finland from 23 August until 10 September next year has long been secure and they will discover their opposition in Helsinki on 18 November.

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