Lukas Podolski Announces Retirement from International Football After Euro 2016

Inter Milan star Lukas Podolski announced his intention to retire from international football after Euro 2016 on Friday, a shocking revelation from the German forward who is currently playing in Italy on loan from Arsenal.

The 29-year-old's decision was announced through Germany's official Twitter feed, after he admitted as much in an interview with Bild:

The versatile attacker currently has 121 caps for Germany, via the official website of the DFB, and has been a regular in manager Joachim Low's teams since the latter took the position in 2006.

Still only 29 years old, Podolski hasn't been a regular starter in recent years, although he has always been a member of the squad and was among those who lifted the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

His loan move to Inter was viewed in part as a way to ensure he would receive enough playing time to warrant a call-up for Germany, but it now seems the former Cologne forward will call it quits after 2016.

The forward has mainly made the news for complaining about his lack of minutes with Arsenal and for his presence on Twitter in recent months, and Sport Witness couldn't help but take a shot when they found out he won't be part of Die Mannschaft beyond the next big international tournament:

A strong season with the Nerazzurri should lead to a permanent move in the summer, and while there is plenty of competition for a spot in Germany's squad, one has to assume the experienced veteran would still make the team if he can prove he's still every bit as good as he once was.

The 2014 World Cup is the only piece of silverware Podolski has won during his time with Die Mannschaft so far.

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