体坛英语新闻：German Mertesacker retires from national team

BERLIN, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Germany defender Per Mertesacker retires from the national team, the DFB (German Soccer Association) confirmed in an official statement on Friday.

Per Mertesacker is the third German player, after Philipp Lahm and Miroslav Klose, who retired after the World Cup triumph in Brazil.

"I am proud of ten years with the DFB, five tournaments, 104 international caps and the World Cup title triumph in Brazil. This is a wonderful ending to withdraw from the national team and to make room for the next generation," Mertesacker told the official homepage of the DFB.

The Arsenal's central defender scored four goals in 104 official caps and made his international debut in October 2009 against Iran.

"Per is the reliability in person. I could always count on him in ten years. He has incredibly developed in recent years," Germany coach Joachim Loew said.

The 29-year-old defender played eight years in the Bundesliga, for Hannover and Bremen, before he joined Arsenal in 2011.