Scholl retires from international game

The Bayern Munich ace, who revealed on Tuesday that he would not be travelling to this summer's World Cup finals because of injury, wants to concentrate on his club duties.

The 31-year-old is disappointed that he has not been able to fulfil his ambitions with the national side and that he has to put his health above everything else.

"I am definitely announcing my retirement," Scholl told Munich daily Suddeutsche Zeitung.

"I've tried long enough to be an important player for the national team, but, apart from Euro 96, my career has taken a disappointing course.

"I was able to play with and against the world's best players, but only for the greatest, like Zinedine Zidane, do all dreams come true."

The attacking midfielder has been troubled with a number of injuries all season and he feels the time is right to quit the international scene.

"Out of 55 possible games with the national team and Bayern Munich this season I have only taken part in 17.

"I am not 20 any more, I'm 32 soon (October 16), and the World Cup is a strenuous tournament.

"I cannot just go there, play for quarter of an hour and hit in a free-kick.

"If I had gone, I would have wanted to play a good game and be able to help. I could not guarantee that."

Scholl played through the pain barrier for Bayern in last weekend's win over Hertha Berlin as Stefan Effenberg was dropped after a controversial interview in Playboy magazine, but he wants to rest to finally cure his injury problems.

"I would not have played on Saturday if Stefan Effenberg had not given his interview," said Scholl.

"I more or less had to play. Actually, I had refused to play on Thursday, yet with the doctor's help I was able to play fairly well.

"I believe that I can judge best what has been missing, even though for people in the stands it might look as if nothing's missing. But when I'm not able to turn to my left, my play is missing 50%.

"I had no choice (to retire). I'm not taking it easy playing for Bayern. This is all about my health. I started my comeback too early after I had a surgery on my left ankle a year ago."

German coach Rudi Voller had hoped to persuade him to play at the World Cup, but Scholl has decided to hang up his boots on the international stage after winning just 36 caps.