Glandorf ends national team career

SG Flensburg-Handewitt right back Holger Glandorf has announced on Monday that he retires from international handball after 167 matches and 576 goals in the German national team jersey.

"This wasn't an easy decision for me, but something that I had been contemplating about for several months

"The time has come to listen to the signals my body sends and to end my national team career," the 31-year-old said.

"I want to stay healthy in the coming years to be available for my club. It's hence necessary to take longer breaks for regeneration, and this is not possible with the current double burden (of playing on the club and the national team level).

"For the past 11 years I've been happy and proud to wear the German jersey. Now it's time for younger players to play the qualification, at international championships and for titles."

Glandorf's retirement comes just about three weeks after Icelandic Dagur Sigurdsson had been announced as German head coach following the dismissal of Martin Heuberger.

Tomorrow (Tuesday) Sigurdsson will announce his team for a double test match against Switzerland on 20/21 September - obviously without Glandorf.

Bernhard Bauer, President of the German Handball Federation, said: "It's a pity that Holger retired from the national team because he's an excellent handball player and an exceptional sportsman. However, we have to respect his decision."

Following the friendlies against Switzerland, Germany will start preparing for the EHF EURO 2016 Qualification in Group 7 at the end of October.

In Round 1 they face Finland on 29 October at home in Gummersbach before travelling to Vienna where they will meet Austria in Round 2 on 2 November 2014.