Gelsenkirchen, Germany - Kevin Kuranyi on Monday named his disappearing act from the Germany team a mistake and attributed it to years of frustration. "It was a mistake to leave like this," admitted the Schalke 04 forward at a news conference.
Kuranyi said he has since apologized to coach Joachim Loew, who fired him from the team just hours after Saturday night's incident.
Kuranyi, one of two Germany players who had not been picked in the 18-man contingent for the day's World Cup qualifier against Russia, left the Dortmund stadium at halftime and later had his belongings picked up at the team hotel by friends.
He met the press on Monday at the same time as Loew held the daily Germany news conference, the timing leading to more raised eyebrows.
"I don't know where to start," the 26-year-old said, but soon expressed his feelings about a difficult time in the team.
Kuranyi scored 19 goals in 52 appearances but had to swallow the disappointment of not making the 2006 World Cup squad and only being a reserve player at Euro 2008.
"I told him (Loew) what I felt over the last three years as a player and as a person.
"I always tried to give it all I had. It was a very difficult situation. We had the World Cup at home and Kevin Kuranyi wasn't there," he said.
Kuranyi also spoke of a hard time recently when he was jeered by Schalke's fans, but expressed his hope that the dust will settle soon and that he can be at his best again.
Kuranyi also refused to rule out fully a return to the national team, but said that such a decision was up to others.
However, Loew insisted his decision to axe Kuranyi was final.
The coach did not want to to dwell on the issue, saying that "the decision has been made" and that "we must look ahead" to Wednesday's qualifier with Wales.
"I can't just look after one player. A team is not only made up of 11 players, but of 20 or so. That is also the case at Schalke," Loew said.
Left back Philipp Lahm named it "a shame" that Kuranyi had left in such a way but at the same said that players learn from a young age onwards that they can't always be assured of playing.
"One has to accept what the coaches decides," said Lahm.
