Mario Gomez congratulates Germany

Fiorentina forward Mario Gomez sent his congratulations to Germany for winning the World Cup, while expressing a tinge of regret for not being part of the successful squad.

Injuries that forced the 29-year-old to miss almost all of last season -- his first in Serie A -- also resulted in the former Bayern Munich forward missing out on a place in Joachim Low's World Cup squad.

In a video published on Viola Channel after his first day of preseason training, Gomez praised his country's achievement in Brazil while vowing to be involved the next time they get a crack at winning a major tournament.

"I am very happy for Germany, they were the best team in the World Cup and have worked for so many years to get there. You could say they were the team that really had to win this World Cup, and they have. They were the best in all departments: the defence, the attack, the goalkeeper.

"[Manuel] Neuer is the best goalkeeper in history for me. Germany are world champions because they were the best team. Of course I'm sorry I was not there. I played seven years in this team and last year I had a bit of bad luck which is why I am here instead. But it's okay, this is life and I am happy for them.

"I still have time to win a World Cup or the European Championships and that's why I train so hard every day; that's the aim. I just need to play well here and score many goals, and the rest will come."

Staying clear of injury and repaying the faith shown in him by Fiorentina would amount to Gomez's own World Cup victory this season, and he got off on the right foot with two goals in a warm-up game on Monday.

"That was my own final," he added with a smile.