What is the largest number of players a national side has lost to retirement at the end of a campaign (be it the end of a tournament or a failed qualifying attempt)? Italy, according to Wikipedia at least, have lost Gianluigi Buffon (39/175 caps), Giorgio Chiellini (33/96), Andrea Barzagli (36/73) and Daniele De Rossi (34/117) after failing to make the World Cup. As far as I'm aware only Buffon plans to retire entirely, and that's at the end of the season (and was he the only one to announce he was going to go before they went out?).
Germany lost three after winning the 2014 World Cup: Philipp Lahm (30/113), Per Mertesacker (30/104) and Miroslav Klose (36/137). Klose was the only one to announce he was going before the tournament. He retired entirely in November 2016, Lahm went in summer 2017 and Mertesacker will finish in summer 2018.
I'm guessing there's more, though.
Germany lost three after winning the 2014 World Cup: Philipp Lahm (30/113), Per Mertesacker (30/104) and Miroslav Klose (36/137). Klose was the only one to announce he was going before the tournament. He retired entirely in November 2016, Lahm went in summer 2017 and Mertesacker will finish in summer 2018.
I'm guessing there's more, though.
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