THE IMPENDING INTERNATIONAL RETIREMENT OF THOMAS MULLER FOLLOWING GERMANY'S WORLD CUP EXIT
THE IMPENDING INTERNATIONAL RETIREMENT OF THOMAS MULLER FOLLOWING GERMANY'S WORLD CUP EXIT
By Rashmi Goel
After Die Mannschaft was eliminated from the 2022 World Cup at the group stage, Thomas Muller confessed that he does not know whether he played his last match for Germany. To qualify for the World Cup, Germany needed Japan to lose to Spain on Thursday evening, but a shock 2-1 victory for the Samurai Blue rendered Germany's 4-2 win over Costa Rica meaningless. Muller gave a speech following the game that many fans feared could be the end of his career.
Although Thomas Muller started for Hansi Flick's team on Thursday, he was unable to make an impact. As Germany took 32 shots and had 11 attempts on goal, Muller was in the thick of things but was unable to provide the finishing touch Germany needed.
Taking a look at the situation, Muller told reporters that it was an absolute disaster. "I am not sure how to move forward and if that is my last game, then I would like to say a few words to the German football fans if this is my last game. I am extremely happy to have had the opportunity to work with you. My sincere thanks go out to you. It was always my goal to show my heart on the pitch whenever I was playing. In some cases, the tears were tears of joy, in other cases, they were tears of pain. It was done with a lot of love on my part. The time has come for me to think about everything."
The German team also exited from the group stage before the knockout round of the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Muller will leave a lasting legacy at the World Cups for Germany, scoring 10 goals in 4 appearances at the showpiece event during his time in Qatar. Germany opened their campaign in Qatar with a shock 2-1 loss to Japan, who ultimately finished on top of Group E. Germany finished 2014 with six straight victories, including five from Muller. In 2010, Germany finished third in the World Cup and he won the Golden Boot.
Muller also expressed dismay over Germany's early exit, calling it an "absolute catastrophe". I am unbelievably bitter because our result would have sufficed," Muller said. It was not meant to be." Muller was hoping to win another medal in Qatar, but it was not meant to be. There is no doubt that Hansi Flick's teams can take confidence from the fact that players such as Jamal Musiala and Kai Havertz delivered when they needed it the most, in their only victory in Qatar, and this can be taken as a sign of things to come.
