BERLIN -- Germany defender Per Mertesacker is retiring from the national team, becoming the third member of the World Cup-winni

BERLIN -- Germany defender Per Mertesacker is retiring from the national team, becoming the third member of the World Cup-winning squad to quit. Devin Hester Jersey . Mertesacker announced his decision in interviews with ZDF television and the Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper Friday. "After 10 fantastic years in the national team, I have reached the decision to step down," ZDF quoted Mertesacker on its website as saying. "It was always important to me to stop at a successful time, and that is the case after winning the World Cup title." The 29-year-old, capped 104 times, added that many young and fresh players are coming up and "the point simply has come now to make the next step possible for these boys." The Arsenal defender follows Philipp Lahm and veteran striker Miroslav Klose, who have both walked away from international football since Germany beat Argentina 1-0 last month to win its first World Cup since 1990. "The national team is in such good shape that Im not at all worried about three players retiring now," Mertesacker said. He will now concentrate on his career with Arsenal, and told the Sueddeutsche Zeitung that he wants to become English champion with the London club. Mertesackers first game for Germany was against Iran on Oct. 9. 2004. He scored four goals for the national team during his career, and appeared in six of Germanys seven matches at this years World Cup in Brazil. World Cup-winning coach Joachim Loew, who is staying on for the 2016 European Championship, said Mertesacker "was always open to new things -- he always wants to learn, despite his immense experience." Loew said Germany would miss "Pers experience ... his positional play, above all his character and his attitude." "I could always rely on him in the 10 years he played for the national team," he said. Mike Ditka Jersey . His actions are much louder on the Fenway Park mound. De La Rosa had another strong home start, going seven solid innings to lift the Boston Red Sox to a 2-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday night. Charles Leno Jr. Jersey . His brother — Red Lake chiropractor Richard Radford — is en route to Sochi to cheer on his younger brother. "Ive been getting texts from Eric and he just says the atmosphere is amazing, its special,” he said. http://www.custombearsjersey.com/custom-bill-george-jersey-large-176t.html . "Ive still got it," Seattles ace said with a sly grin. Riding that fastball carrying a little more zip, Hernandez took a shutout bid into the ninth inning as the Mariners beat the Los Angeles Angels 3-1 on Wednesday night. On the verge of a brilliant shutout and first complete game since Aug.PITTSBURGH -- The injured list keeps growing for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Forward Beau Bennett will miss 8-to-10 weeks after undergoing wrist surgery on Monday. Bennett was hurt during Fridays victory over the New York Islanders. This is Bennetts second trip to the injured list this season. He previously missed 11 games because of a lower body injury. The Penguins will also bbe without forward Tanner Glass for 3-to-4 weeks after Glass broke his hand in a loss to Montreal on Saturday. Dennis McKinnon Jersey. Defenceman Paul Martin will sit out Wednesdays game against Toronto due to a lower-body injury. The Penguins called up Andrew Ebbett from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL on Tuesday. Ebbett had six goals and nine assists in 18 games there. ' ' '