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BERLIN -- Germany defender Per Mertesacker is retiring from the national team, becoming the third member of the World Cup-winning squad to quit. Josh Sweat Jersey . Mertesacker announced his decision in interviews with ZDF television and the Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper Friday. "After 10 fantastic years in the national team, I have reached the decision to step down," ZDF quoted Mertesacker on its website as saying. "It was always important to me to stop at a successful time, and that is the case after winning the World Cup title." The 29-year-old, capped 104 times, added that many young and fresh players are coming up and "the point simply has come now to make the next step possible for these boys." The Arsenal defender follows Philipp Lahm and veteran striker Miroslav Klose, who have both walked away from international football since Germany beat Argentina 1-0 last month to win its first World Cup since 1990. "The national team is in such good shape that Im not at all worried about three players retiring now," Mertesacker said. He will now concentrate on his career with Arsenal, and told the Sueddeutsche Zeitung that he wants to become English champion with the London club. Mertesackers first game for Germany was against Iran on Oct. 9. 2004. He scored four goals for the national team during his career, and appeared in six of Germanys seven matches at this years World Cup in Brazil. World Cup-winning coach Joachim Loew, who is staying on for the 2016 European Championship, said Mertesacker "was always open to new things -- he always wants to learn, despite his immense experience." Loew said Germany would miss "Pers experience ... his positional play, above all his character and his attitude." "I could always rely on him in the 10 years he played for the national team," he said. Haloti Ngata Eagles Jersey .com) - Driphus Jackson had three touchdown passes, including two in a 19-second span in the opening quarter, to guide Rice to a 30-6 rout of Fresno State at the Hawaii Bowl. Avonte Maddox Jersey . The All-Pro left tackle agreed to a five-year contract with the Eagles on Wednesday. Peters was signed for 2014, and his new deal adds four years through 2018. http://www.authenticfootballshopeagles.com/authentic-markus-wheaton-jersey.html . -- DeMarcus Cousins had 29 points, nine rebounds and six steals to lead the Sacramento Kings to their third straight preseason win, a 107-90 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night.OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Oklahoma City Thunder had been struggling on their own court, losing two straight and three out of their last four at home. Kevin Durant made sure that trend didnt continue Sunday night. Durant overcame a slow start to finish with 21 points, seven rebounds and eight assists, Reggie Jackson scored a career-high 27 points, and the Thunder rolled to a 119-96 win over the Boston Celtics. Serge Ibaka added 17 points and 11 rebounds for Oklahoma City, which had struggled at home after starting the season 13-0 at Chesapeake Energy Arena. The Thunder (27-7) have the best record in the Western Conference. Oklahoma City is 4-2 since All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook had arthroscopic knee surgery on Dec. 27. A day after the Thunder narrowly avoided a three-game losing streak -- rallying from a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit to win at Minnesota behind Durants season-high 48-point effort -- they seized control early against the Celtics, going on a 10-0 run in the first quarter and never trailing again. "We just want to come in here and focus every time, especially after an emotional win last night," Durant said. "On the back-to-back, it might have been easy for us to relax, but I think we did a good job of playing hard." Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks said the emphasis wasnt so much on winning at home, but instead eliminating the in-game lapses that led to the Thunders recent home losses to Toronto, Portland and Brooklyn. "Its just important that we just play a 48-minute game," Brooks said. "I thought we had good moments on the games that we lost, but it wasnt consistent throughout the game and the other teams got hot down the stretch and we couldnt stop it. "But we didnt go into the game and say, Guys, weve got to win tonight because weve lost three out of our last four at home. We went into the game, Guys, we want to keep playing our style of basketball." Jeff Green and Avery Bradley scored 19 points apiece for Boston, which has lost four straight games and seven of its last eight. Oklahoma City matched its season high for points in a half and led 66-56 at the break. The Thunder scored the first six points of the second half and the Celtics came no closer than 11 the rest of the way. "I thought our ball movement in the first half was really good," Boston coach Brad Stevens said. "That dried up in the second, and we didnt help each other on defence very often. One of the things wweve got to do as a group is when things dont go well, weve got to collect ourselves quicker and make things go in our favour again. Michael Bennett Eagles Jersey. When things are going well, were not bad, but when things dont go well, we havent responded well lately." Durant didnt record his first field goal until 5 1/2 minutes into the second quarter, but still had 17 points by halftime thanks to 9-of-10 free throw shooting. He sat out the fourth quarter with the game in hand. Jackson hit six of his first seven shots and was 3 of 3 from 3-point range while scoring 19 in the first half. He surpassed his previous career high of 23 points with 2:57 left in the third quarter, taking a pass from Durant and rising for a one-handed dunk. Jackson, who finished 9 of 12 from the field, said he doesnt feel extra pressure while subbing in the Thunders starting lineup for Westbrook. "Pressure bursts pipes or makes diamonds," Jackson said. "Im cool with it. I put a lot on myself and I expect big things from myself. Im just happy to have a pretty good game tonight and most importantly come out with another win." Moments after Jacksons dunk, Ibaka followed with another slam to put Oklahoma City ahead 89-68. "In that third quarter, they went on that run and we had no answer," Green said. "We came a little bit too attached to our man and let them get easy layups." Jordan Crawford scored 17 points and Kris Humphries added 14 for the Celtics. Jeremy Lamb scored 13 points and Kendrick Perkins ---playing against his former team ---added a season-high 12 points to go with six rebounds for the Thunder. NOTES: Westbrook spoke to the media before the game for the first time since his most recent arthroscopic knee surgery and says theres "never a doubt" that he wont be able to return to form. Hes already off crutches and is shooting free throws, but says he doesnt know when hell be able to return to the lineup. The team has said hell be out through the All-Star break. . Before the game, Green -- who began his career with the Thunder franchise before being traded to the Celtics -- went over to the Oklahoma City bench to greet some of his former teammates. . Durant was called for a technical foul 71 seconds into the game for complaining about officiating. . Former Thunder coach P.J. Carlesimo, fired by the team after a 1-12 start in the franchises first season in Oklahoma City (2008-09), was a colour commentator on the Celtics television crew. Wholesale MLB Orioles Jerseys Red Sox Jerseys From China Discount Yankees Jerseys Online Rays Jerseys For Sale Blue Jays Jerseys From China Wholesale MLB White Sox Jerseys Indians Jerseys For Sale Tigers Jerseys From China Wholesale MLB Astros Jerseys Cheap Baseball Angels Jerseys Athletics Jerseys From China Mariners Jerseys For Sale Cheap Baseball Rangers Jerseys Braves Jerseys For Sale Discount Marlins Jerseys Online Discount Mets Jerseys Online Phillies Jerseys From China Wholesale MLB Nationals Jerseys Cubs Jerseys From China Discount Reds Jerseys Online Brewers Jerseys From China Wholesale MLB Pirates Jerseys Wholesale MLB Cardinals Jerseys Diamondbacks Jerseys For Sale Rockies Jerseys For Sale Discount Dodgers Jerseys Online Discount Padres Jerseys Online Giants Jerseys For Sale ' ' '