World Cup-Winning Germany Captain Philipp Lahm Retires From International Football: Will Continue For Bayern Munich

Germany won the World Cup only days ago, but soon after returning home, defender and captain, Philipp Lahm has announced he will retire from international football. The 30-year-old defender is in good shape and arguably could play for a long, long time, but he decided to call it quits. After 113 caps for his country, it seems he wants to concentrate on his club football at Bundesliga outfit Bayern Munich. Is this a shock, or was it to be expected?

Lahm explained his decision, saying £I am happy and grateful that the end of my career with the national team coincides with winning the World Cup in Brazil." His club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said "There is hardly a better farewell than to be a world champion at the peak of your career.. But for the national team, it will not be easy to replace Lahm as a player, captain and a man."

The adaptable player could one day move to the English Premier League, so perhaps he sees this as a way to prolong his club career. Will Lahm go down as one of the greatest ever defenders? Is there a better to retire than after winning the world's biggest sporting trophy, or will he live to regret this decision?

It seems that while many were awaiting retirement confirmations from veterans, they were hit with a retirement they would of never predicted a few weeks ago. Will Lahm ever put on the Germany shirt again, or is he really done for good?