ˌɔn fˈaɪv ˈeɪpɹəl tˈuː θˈaʊzənd ɪlˈɛvən, hiː stˈɛpt dˌaʊn fɹʌmðə nˈæʃənəl tˈiːm ɐlˈɔŋ wɪð ˌælɪɡzˈændɚ fɹˈeɪ, ˈæftɚ bˌiːɪŋ ʃˈɑːɹpli kɹˈɪɾɪsˌaɪzd baɪ hˈoʊm fˈænz fˈɑːloʊɪŋ ɐ zˈiəɹoʊ zˈiəɹoʊ dɹˈɔː wɪð bʌlɡˈɛɹiə fɚðə jˈʊɹɹoʊ tˈuː θˈaʊzənd twˈɛlv kwˈɔlɪfˌaɪɚ.
On 5 April 2011, he stepped down from the national team along with Alexander Frei, after being sharply criticised by home fans following a 0–0 draw with Bulgaria for the Euro 2012 qualifier.