Bastian Schweinsteiger has written his World Champion colleague Lukas Podolski an emotional letter, as the 31-year-old striker has announced his retirement from international football. “Dear Lukas, for years we’ve shared a friendship, one that does not often occur in life – that’s how your letter to my farewell from the national team started back then,” wrote Schweinsteiger in the newspaper Welt am Sonntag. “I wouldn’t know how better to start mine.”

The 32-year-old remembers his departure from the national team back in August 2016 against Finland (2-0 victory) in Mönchengladbach. “I saw you sitting in the stands amongst my family,” the former Germany skipper wrote Podolski. “In the midst of those people, who hold a special place in life – and you belong to those people as well.” He finished his letter with the following words: “Goodbye, Poldi my friend. See you soon!”

Podolski and Schweinsteiger played side-by-side for the DFB Team from 2004 until 2016, crowning their international careers with the 2014 World Cup victory in Brazil. Podolski will get his farewell on Wednesday in Dortmund during the international classic with England in his 130th appearance for Germany.

The full letter

Dear Lukas,

“For years we’ve shared a friendship, one that does not often occur in life” – that’s how your letter for my farewell from the national team started back then in the Welt am Sonntag. And I wouldn’t know how better to start mine.

I still clearly remember the moment of my substitution in my final international game, and when I saw you sitting in the stands amongst my family, in the midst of those people who hold a special place in my life – and you are one of those people as well.

With your positive attitude, open-minded manner and not least your inimitable hammer of a left foot, you not only delighted me, but also the English, German and Turkish audiences equally. Therefore I have no doubt, that you will quickly turn the Japanese fans into Poldi-fans as well, as you’re now heading towards the Far East.