Germany defender Rudiger announces international retirement

Sept 1 : Germany defender Antonio Rudiger announced his retirement from international football on Tuesday, ending a 12-year career with the national team so that he can focus on his club career and make way for the next generation of players.The 33-year-old centre back earned 86 caps after making his senior debut in 2014, establishing himself as a mainstay of the Germany defence across three World Cups and multiple European Championships."After some time to reflect, the time has come for me to end my career with the national team and make way for the younger generation," Rudiger wrote on Instagram."Even though we didn't win a major title in recent tournaments and had to endure some painful defeats, this time has been an extremely special chapter for me, one that will shape me forever." Rud