Pascal Groß has stepped down from the German national team, confirming that his international chapter concluded following the World Cup despite continuing strong form for Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League. The 35-year-old midfielder addressed his status after leading Brighton & Hove Albion to a 3-0 victory over Arsenal, noting that he had quietly stepped away from the DFB-Team without making a formal public announcement.
Confirming the End of a Late-Blooming International Career
“I have already stepped down. For me, that was it after the World Cup,” Groß said after the match against the Premier League champions. Because he does not use social media, the transition happened without a traditional digital announcement. “Officially – I don’t have social media – I haven’t retired now. But I’ve already retired.”
Groß earned a reputation as a late bloomer on the international stage. He made his debut for the senior German national team in 2023 at the age of 32 under then-head coach Hansi Flick. He was subsequently selected by Julian Nagelsmann for the squad that traveled to the FIFA World Cup hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, where his sole appearance at the tournament came as a second-half substitute during a 2-1 group-stage defeat to Ecuador. Across his career with the national selection, Groß accumulated 19 caps and scored one goal.
Club Form and Role at Brighton & Hove Albion
The retirement announcement coincides with a stellar run of form in English club football. After spending a season and a half with Borussia Dortmund, Groß returned to Brighton & Hove Albion in January. Under manager Fabian Hürzeler, the midfielder has re-established himself as an essential figure within the squad. During the 3-0 win over Arsenal, Groß wore the captain’s armband and contributed significantly on the pitch with a goal and an assist. He currently records three goals and four assists in league play for the club this term.
“I still enjoy playing football here at the club,” Groß stated, reflecting on his ongoing career in England. Commenting on the transition within the national setup under newly appointed coach Jürgen Klopp—whose expanded preliminary roster omitted the veteran—Groß expressed full support for the team’s ongoing generational shift. “I think there is an upheaval in Germany and that’s a good thing. And I’ll keep my fingers crossed for them,” he said.
Context within the DFB Roster Shift
Groß joins a wave of experienced departures from the national setup following the conclusion of the World Cup cycle. Records show he is the third high-profile player to step aside after the tournament, following similar decisions by long-serving figures Manuel Neuer and Antonio Rüdiger. While his exclusion from Klopp’s broader 44-man selection signaled a changing of the guard, Groß’s post-match comments definitively close the door on any future international call-ups, allowing the coaching staff to plan entirely around younger prospects.
