Hamann confirms international retirement

Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann has retired from international football after being overlooked for Germany’s World Cup squad.

He won 59 caps and scored five goals, among them the last ever goal at the old Wembley Stadium when Germany beat England in an October 2000 World Cup qualifier.

Hamann made his international debut against South Africa in 1997 and his last appearance was against Holland in August last year. In 2002 he played for Germany in the World Cup final.

The 32-year-old was also an FA Cup winner with Liverpool last weekend but admits he expected to be omitted by Germany boss Jurgen Klinsmann.

“It’s not really a big surprise to me I wasn’t in the squad,” he said on www.liverpoolfc.tv.

“I haven’t spoken to the manager for the last three months so I didn’t think there was much chance of me being included. That’s it for me now at international level. I’m 32 now and this would have been my last tournament.”