Linke calls time on Germany

Germany defender Thomas Linke has announced his retirement from international football.

Final decision  
The 32-year-old FC Bayern München defender had already indicated before the FIFA World Cup finals that he would quit international football if Germany failed to become world champions and he has now confirmed that decision. However, he will continue to play club football.

Grand finale
Linke's decision means that the World Cup final, which Germany lost 2-0 to Brazil, will be the last of his 41 international caps after making his debut in a friendly game against South Africa in Düsseldorf on 15 November 1997.

'The right time'
"It has been a great pleasure, but you have to step down at the top of your game," said Linke. "I think this is the right time to do so. I am almost 33 now and my son is eight months old, I think I need to spend some more time with him."

Glory with Bayern
The defender started his career in 1977 at his local club BSG Robotron Sömmerda before joining Rot-Weiss Erfurt in 1983. In 1992 he moved to FC Schalke 04, where he won the UEFA Cup in 1997. One year later he signed for Bayern and since then has lifted three German league titles, one German Cup and the UEFA Champions League in 2001.