Neuville ready to commit

Germany international Oliver Neuville has spoken to skysports.com about his desire to end his career with Borussia Monchengladbach.

The veteran hit-man, 33-years-old, is entering the final stages of a well travelled career and it would appear that he has decided to call time on a life in football with Borussia.

Neuville insists that when looking back over his time in football he has few, if any, regrets but he is willing to concede that in hindsight he may have extended a season-long sojourn in Spain.

The diminutive striker would have liked to have sampled English football, too, but overall it is with contentment that he considers his time in the game.

"I think I will end my career with Gladbach," he told skysports.com. "My contract runs until 2008.

"I don't know if I will continue after that, we will see if I have two good seasons and if the club offers me a contract extension.

"I don't have regrets in my career, but playing more in Spain (only one season with Tenerife) would have suited me.

"Their league is very offensive, there are a lot of spaces. I also would have loved to play in England. But I am happy with my career.

"In Germany, the stadiums are gorgeous and the fans are fantastic.

"I have lost a couple of finals. With Leverkusen, we could have won the league, the Champions League and the national cup, which would have been so important for the club.

"And I remember having nearly scored an important free kick in the final of the 2002 World Cup, it hit the post. Nobody was expecting us, but we wanted to win."

Neuville was a key squad man for Germany in this summer's World Cup and while he was restricted to appearances from the bench, he looks back on the experience with genuine pride.

Of the opinion that Germany were unfortunate to fall at the semi-final stage to eventual winners Italy, Neuville still feels that the hosts changed the public's perception in a positive manner.

"I have enjoyed a lot playing for such a spectacular team," he added.

"Before, people used to say Germany had a winning squad who didn't play well, but we have changed minds.

"Jurgen Klinsmann and Joachim Lowe have changed mentalities thanks to their offensive philosophy.

"I have a lot of regrets about losing in the semi-final of our World Cup, conceding a goal in the last minute.

"We were already thinking about the penalties. It hurts to have lost against Italy because we were a better team.

"It wasn't frustrating for me to be used as a joker, playing 15 minutes of every match. Because our two strikers Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski are so good.

"I was there to replace them when they were tired. I have accepted to be the third striker, and I have played well, scoring an important goal.

"The most important thing for Germany is to mix youth and experience, and for the moment it works very well.

"I haven't a secret for eternity, but I continue to be very quick and to score goals in spite of my age.

"That can be explained by the absence of grave injuries during my career."