Jerome Boateng has no plans to quit international football despite coming in for criticism following Germany’s shock group-stage exit at the World Cup.
Boateng, 29, was one of nine players from the squad that lifted the World Cup four years ago who made it to Russia but were dumped out after losing to both Mexico and South Korea.
No player has so far announced his retirement from international football to make way for new blood.
“It was never an issue for me,” Boateng, who was sent off in the win over Sweden and missed the loss to South Korea, told Die Welt when asked about international retirement. “I am a leader. And as such I am ready to tackle the reboot.”