Germany midfielder Garefrekes retires

Aug 30, 2011 - 9:07 PM Berlin, Germany (Sports Network) - Germany women's national team midfielder Kerstin Garefrekes retired Tuesday, as the two-time World Cup champions lost another longtime player.

All-time leading scorer Birgit Prinz retired after the 2011 World Cup and the 31-year-old Garefrekes - who captained Germany after Prinz was benched - has also decided to end her international career.

Garefrekes earned 130 caps and scored 43 goals, including two in the recent World Cup. She was part of the Germany teams that won the World Cup in 2003 and 2007. Garefrekes also helped Germany claim two UEFA Euro titles.