German Football Team Captain Ilkay Gündoğan Retires from International Football

Ilkay Gündoğan, the captain of the German football team, has retired from international football.

At the age of 33, Ilkay Gündoğan, the captain of Germany, has announced his retirement from international football. Only a few weeks after helping Germany to victory in the European Championship, the midfield player—who was an integral part of the German national team—announced his decision on social media. Spain, the eventual champions, eliminated Germany in the quarterfinals despite a great performance.

After giving it some thought, Gündoğan, who has 82 caps since making his debut for his country in 2011, stated that it was time to take a step back. When he looked back on his career, he cited the privilege of leading the squad in the European Championship on home ground as the high point.

“After careful consideration, I feel it’s the right time to conclude my journey with the national team,” he said. Gündoğan admitted that his decision to end his international career was influenced by the physical and emotional exhaustion he experienced in the run-up to Euro 2024.

Despite leaving the national team, Gündoğan is upbeat about Germany’s chances going forward and believes the side has what it takes to contend for the championship in the 2026 World Cup. He complimented the current coach’s leadership and the team’s attitude.

Gündoğan, who joined Barcelona last summer following a brilliant time at Manchester City, where he won several domestic and international trophies, is currently assessing his club future. He may have moved to Spain recently, but he is apparently looking at other choices for the next phase of his career.

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