Bayern Munich striker Sandro Wagner has retired from international football after being omitted from the Germany squad for the World Cup finals in Russia.
The 30-year-old frontman missed out when coach Joachim Low named his 23-man party for the summer action, with RB Leipzig ace Timo Werner, Stuttgart striker Mario Gomez and uncapped Freiburg frontman Nils Petersen given the nod.
I wish the lads all the best in Russia and hope that they return as world champions.
Sandro Wagner
And that has prompted an immediate reaction from Wagner, who scored five times in eight appearances for Die Mannschaft, having made his debut against Denmark just under a year ago.
He told Bild: "I am hereby retiring from the national team with immediate effect.
"It's clear that my open, honest and straightforward manner doesn't fit in with the coaching team. I wish the lads all the best in Russia and hope that they return as world champions.
"I would be lying if I said I'm not disappointed. Playing in the World Cup would have been great.
"Of course, I can't take this seriously, but as I have often said in the past, there are more important things in life than football."
Wagner netted eight goals in 14 Bundesliga appearances for Bayern following his January arrival from Hoffenheim, with the big frontman having started his career in Munich before enjoying spells with the likes of Werder Bremen, Hertha Berlin and Hoffenheim.
Meanwhile, Wagner is 21/20 to score at any time for Bayern when they face Eintracht Frankfurt in the DFB-Pokal final on Saturday.
The men from Munich are 3/10 to win the game in Berlin in normal time and are 7/1 to win 2-0 in 90 minutes.
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Bayern Munich striker Sandro Wagner has retired from international football after being omitted from the Germany squad for the World Cup finals in Russia.
The 30-year-old frontman missed out when coach Joachim Low named his 23-man party for the summer action, with RB Leipzig ace Timo Werner, Stuttgart striker Mario Gomez and uncapped Freiburg frontman Nils Petersen given the nod.
I wish the lads all the best in Russia and hope that they return as world champions.
Sandro Wagner
And that has prompted an immediate reaction from Wagner, who scored five times in eight appearances for Die Mannschaft, having made his debut against Denmark just under a year ago.
He told Bild: "I am hereby retiring from the national team with immediate effect.
"It's clear that my open, honest and straightforward manner doesn't fit in with the coaching team. I wish the lads all the best in Russia and hope that they return as world champions.
"I would be lying if I said I'm not disappointed. Playing in the World Cup would have been great.
"Of course, I can't take this seriously, but as I have often said in the past, there are more important things in life than football."
Wagner netted eight goals in 14 Bundesliga appearances for Bayern following his January arrival from Hoffenheim, with the big frontman having started his career in Munich before enjoying spells with the likes of Werder Bremen, Hertha Berlin and Hoffenheim.
Meanwhile, Wagner is 21/20 to score at any time for Bayern when they face Eintracht Frankfurt in the DFB-Pokal final on Saturday.
The men from Munich are 3/10 to win the game in Berlin in normal time and are 7/1 to win 2-0 in 90 minutes.
View all Soccer betting
Source: bet365.com