Thank You, Basti! German Legend Schweinsteiger Retires From International Football

AFP

‘Basti’ is done with Die Mannschaft!

Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger on Friday announced his retirement from international duty.

The 31-year-old Manchester United midfielder, who won his 120th and final cap in Germany’s 2-0 defeat to France in the semi-finals of Euro 2016, revealed the news on his official Twitter account.

Schweinsteiger walks away from die Mannschaft two years after his crowning moment in helping win the 2014 World Cup.

Bloodied, but unbowed, Schweinsteiger was magnificent at Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Maracana stadium in the final, ensuring Germany controlled the midfield before Mario Goetze’s extra-time winning goal.

After 12 years and24 goals in 120 international appearances, ‘Schweini’ leaves having been a key factor in Germany reaching at least the semi-final stage of the last six major tournaments.

The last two injury-hit years have been unkind to the 31-year-old, who opted to quit Bayern Munich, the club he joined as a teenager in 1998, for a high-profile switch to Manchester United in 2015.

b’Reuters’

A knee injury in January was aggravated while on Germany duty in March, restricting him to a handful of games, before coming off the bench in their opening Euro 2016 group game to score with his third touch of the ball in a 2-0 win over Ukraine.

The March injury to the medial ligament in his right knee meant he played in only five of Germany’s six Euro 2016 games — sitting out the goalless draw against Poland — and started only the semi-final defeat to France.

On his return to Old Trafford, after marrying tennis star Ana Ivanovic, new United boss Jose Mourinho has reportedly told the Germany star he is free to find a new club with two years left on his contract.

Here are the highlights of his glittering career:

b’Crowning glory! / PTI’

For that performance in the final alone, Basti will go down as one of the greatest German footballers of all time!

Thank you for all the memories in the White & Black, Basti!

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