Goalkeeper Bodo Illgner quit the German national team Sunday, immediately after his team's loss to Bulgaria in the World Cup quarterfinals.
"I told the coach in the locker room that I will not play for the national team anymore," Illgner said after the defending champions' 2-1 upset by the Bulgarians."I had made the decision to quit already before, but I wanted to depart with another World Cup title. It didn't work out, but I am standing by my decision," said Illgner, 27.
Vogts said he was disappointed by Illgner's move.
"It shows some weakness of character. This is the first real human disappointment for me," Vogts said.
Asked about Illgner's reaction to the free-kick shot by Hristo Stoitchkov that tied the game, Vogts replied, "It's good that he is quitting."
Illgner said he did not feel guilty for Bulgaria's goal.
"I don't think that it's all my fault. The ball was shot extremely flatly over the wall," he said.
Vogts said the German wall also was to blame, because some players in the wall failed to jump high when Stoitchkov fired from 25 yards.
"I think the wall was also not in a good position, our defense was very hectic at the time and we were not calm," the goalkeeper said.
Illgner, making his 54th appearance in German colors, made no effort to catch the ball, which dropped into his left corner, and appeared to have caught him by surprise.
Illgner made his international debut in a 1-0 victory over Denmark on Sept. 23, 1987. He has spent his entire pro career at FC Cologne, which he joined in 1983.
In 1990, he guarded the goal when Germany won its third World Cup title.
He slumped during the 1992 European Championship in Sweden, when Germany lost the final 2-0 to Denmark. He lost his starting spot briefly, and constantly had to prove himself superior to 32-year-old Andreas Koepke.
Shortly before traveling to the United States, he won a vote of confidence from Vogts, who picked Illgner over Koepke because of his experience at the previous World Cup.
But he was inconsistent in this tournament, making no glaring mistakes, but lacking confidence in some situations.
Illgner created a stir when his wife Bianca criticized German soccer officials for not allowing wives and girlfriends of players to stay in the same hotel. He also came under fire for leaving the team hotel without permission to see his wife and daughter.
Illgner is a close friend of Stefan Effenberg, the German player who was sent home for making an obscene gesture toward German fans during a first-round game.
His successor on the national team is expected to be either Koepke or Oliver Kahn, the 25-year-old No. 3 goalie on the national team who many already consider the top goalkeeper in the Bundesliga.