FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) 鈥� Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has retired from international soccer for the second time after the team鈥檚 .
The 40-year-old Neuer, who was coaxed out of retirement just before the tournament, said in TV interviews that would be his last international game.
鈥淵es,鈥� he told broadcaster Sportschau when asked if that was it, while he told Magenta TV he would not play on. 鈥淣o. It鈥檚 very bitter to end it like this.鈥�
Germany was eliminated when it lost 4-3 to Paraguay on penalties after the teams drew 1-1 with extra time.
Neuer had already retired from international soccer and had insisted he wouldn鈥檛 return.
Hoffenheim鈥檚 Oliver Baumann took over at Germany鈥檚 No. 1 following injuries to Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andr茅 ter Stegen and had played in the team鈥檚 last six qualification games, as well as pre-tournament friendlies.
Despite denials from the player and Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann, speculation about Neuer鈥檚 potential return continued until Nagelsmann confirmed as much by for the World Cup as Germany鈥檚 No. 1, demoting Baumann.
The move didn鈥檛 pay off. Neuer saved a penalty in the shootout against Paraguay but it wasn’t enough as three German players missed their spot kicks.
Neuer, who made his Germany debut in 2009, was the sole surviving member of the 2014 World Cup-winning squad. He played 128 games for Germany. ___
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