WC14 captain Lahm quits German team

Germany's World Cup-winning captain Philipp Lahm said on Friday he would retire from the national team and expressed delight at ending his international career with the biggest prize of all.

"In the course of the past season, I made the decision to end my international career after the World Cup," Lahm wrote in an open letter on the German Football Association DFB webpage. "I communicated this decision to coach Joachim Loew over breakfast on Monday.

"I am happy and grateful that my international career ends with winning the World Cup in Brazil."

Lahm went on to thank Loew, the other DFB coaches, team manager Oliver Bierhoff and DFB employees for the "great working relationship" he enjoyed with them over the past 10 years.

He concluded by saying "thank you for a wonderful time!".

The 30-year-old Bayern Munich defender led his country to a fourth World Cup title in Brazil as Mario Goetze's extra-time goal earned a 1-0 win over Argentina in Sunday's (Monday AEST) final.

Lahm and his teammates were welcomed home as heroes in Berlin on Tuesday.

Winning the World Cup is the pinnacle of Lahm's career, which also includes a Champions League title, six Bundesliga crowns and six German Cups.

"Philipp telephoned this morning to inform me personally about this step," DFB president Wolfgang Niersbach told the association home page. "Very quickly in the conversation, I realised it was futile to try to talk him out of his decision.

"He was, in his 10 years with the national team, not only an outstanding player but also an absolute role model. I have thanked him for all he has done for the DFB."

There was immediate praise for Lahm from prominent figures in German football, including 1990 World Cup winner Rudi Voeller, international teammate Lukas Podolski and Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

"That is a surprise for me, probably for everyone," German legend Uwe Seeler told dpa. "But he now has the World Cup title. As a footballer, you cannot do anything more."

Lahm began his German career in February 2004 with a 2-1 win away to Croatia. He went on to earn 113 caps for his country and scored five goals, most notably in the opening game of the 2006 World Cup against Costa Rica.

Before Brazil 2014, Lahm claimed third place in the 2006 and 2010 tournaments, and was runner-up at Euro 2008. He also played at Euros in 2004 and 2012.

Lahm's contract with Bundesliga champions Bayern, renewed before the World Cup, runs to 2018.