Germany striker Mario Gomez has retired from international duty – though he has not ruled out a return for Euro 2020 if “the head coach is in desperate need for players”.

Posting on Facebook, Gomez said, “My international career was not always easy and I was not always successful, but the experience has been wonderful.

“It is now time for me to retire from the team and allow the group of young players coming through to have the opportunity to prove themselves and fulfill their dreams.

“I will only come back in the unlikely situation that the head coach is in desperate need for players for the European Championships in two years and I feel fit enough to join the team and help.”

Gomez scored 31 goals in 78 games for Germany, though only five in European Championships and none in the World Cup – including this summer’s showing, when the side made a disastrous group-stage exit.

The 33-year-old Stuttgart star was not part of the 2014 Germany squad which won the World Cup, and thus has not tasted success at international level, coming closest at Euro 2008 when Die Mannschaft lost in the final.