Frings considered quitting Germany team after World Cup match ban

dpa German Press Agency
Published: Tuesday October 10, 2006

Bratislava, Slovakia- Germany midfielder Torsten Frings said he considered quitting international football after he had been suspended by world governing body FIFA during the World Cup. The 29-year-old Werder Bremen player told Bild newspaper he was "completely empty" after missing the semi-final against Italy in Dortmund and did not feel like playing any more for Germany.

"That was the low point. I wanted to chuck everything in and never play for Germany again. I wanted to retire," he said.

"FIFA had suspended me, and in that moment stole everything, really everything you can dream about in an international career."

Frings had been suspended for the semi-final against Italy, which Germany lost 2-0 in extra-time, for his part in scuffles after the penalty shoot-out win over Argentina in the previous round.

Frings said he spent two weeks on holiday considering whether he wanted to continue before deciding the German team was too good to leave.

He has now set his sights on the 2008 European Championships, where Germany has "the chance to be European champions", and on Germany's "next attack" on the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.

The German team has a Euro 2008 Group D qualifier against Slovakia in Bratislava on Wednesday.

© 2006 dpa German Press Agency