Schweinsteiger calls time on his Germany career

Bastian Schweinsteiger has announced his retirement from international football. Three weeks after Germany were knocked out of Euro 2016 following a semi-final loss to France, the Manchester United midfielder has said he is stepping down as captain of the national team and ending his international playing career. The 31-year-old said on his Twitter page: "Dear fans of the Germany national team. "I have just asked the national team coach not to consider me any more for his national team selections in future since I would like to retire." Schweinsteiger, whose final game for Joachim Loew's team was the 2-0 defeat to France, was capped 120 times by his country and scored 24 goals. He became captain after Philipp Lahm retired following the 2014 World Cup, which he won as vice-captain. His record with Germany, for whom he debuted in June 2004 in a 2-0 defeat to Hungary, reads 81 wins, 19 draws and 20 defeats. His international CV includes two third-place World Cup finishes and a runners-up spot at the 2008 European Championship and he reached the semi-final of every major tournament he was involved in. He added: "My thanks go to the fans, the team, the DFB (German Football...

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