Germany's Khedira wants to continue international career

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany veteran midfielder Sami Khedira said on Thursday he was eager to keep playing for the national team despite the former world champions' World Cup fiasco this year.

Germany's Khedira wants to continue international career

(Reuters)





Khedira, 31, part of Germany's 2014 World Cup winner, was among a number of players sharply criticised for their performances in Russia in June after Germany crashed out of the World Cup in the group stage.

It was Germany's earliest exit at a World Cup in 80 years, putting the national team future of several players, including Khedira, in doubt.

"After a good season and nine goals with Juventus, I played my two worst matches at the World Cup with full fitness. That was really bad," Khedira, who plays for Italian club Juventus, said on his Instagram account.

Germany finished last in their group with just one win - over Sweden - and defeats to Mexico and South Korea. Khedira played in both those defeats, having been dropped against Sweden.

"The criticism against me and us all is justified," he said, while adding he was ready to fight for his spot on the team.

"It must be an honour for any active player to play for this country, this (DFB) association and this team," said Khedira.

"If there are better players at the moment then I will accept it. But should I be nominated because the coach believes I can help the DFB then for me it is always an honour and an obligation."

Fellow midfielder Toni Kroos has also said he wants to continue with the team, while Mesut Ozil announced his international retirement in July, saying he had faced "racism and disrespect" because of his Turkish roots after he appeared in a photo with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan.





(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann; Editing by Mark Heinrich)


Share
2 min read

Published

Source: Reuters


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world