Galatasaray forward Podolski, 31, has made 129 senior appearances for Germany and was part of the 2014 World Cup-winning squad, but he has dropped down the pecking order in recent times.
He started his last match for Die Nationalmannschaft in the 4-0 win over Gibraltar in November 2014 and scored the most recent of his 48 goals in the 2-2 draw with Australia in March last year.
He has so far made just one appearance at Euro 2016, as a substitute in the 3-0 win over Slovakia in the round of 16, and is not expected to start Thursday’s semifinal with France (9 p.m. CET/3 p.m. ET, ESPN) even in spite of Mario Gomez’s injury.
The former Arsenal forward has now said he could be ready to walk away before the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
“Russia would be my eighth tournament, and the Confederations Cup is played in 2017,” he said. “As I now have a family, I have to consider my future.”
Miroslav Klose, Philipp Lahm and Per Mertesacker all retired after Germany’s 2014 World Cup success, and Podolski said: “Let’s put it this way: If we win the Euro, it will be an easy decision for me. Otherwise, I’d have to take my time.”
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