Merkel praises Özil's contribution to German national team

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is thankful to Mesut Özil for what the player contributed to the national team, a government spokeswoman says.

"The Chancellor values Mesut Özil highly. Mesut Özil is a fantastic footballer who has done a lot for the national team," the spokeswoman said. "Mesut Özil has now made a decision [to quit] that must be respected."

"Germany is a cosmopolitan country and the integration of people with a migration background is a key task of the federal government," the spokeswoman said.