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This could be my last World Cup with England - Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard
'Golden Generation' set for one last chance...
23 May 2010 09:19:00
By Sumeet Paul
Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard has admitted that this summer's World Cup in South Africa could be his, and several others, last chance to shine for England.
Gerrard, who will turn 30 at the end of next month, is realistic in his assessment that this may well be his last opportunity to perform on the international stage.
With team-mates Frank Lampard and Rio Ferdinand having surpassed that milestone already, and with John Terry and Ashley Cole not far behind, Gerrard feels that it could work in England's favour this summer.
"The feeling this is our last World Cup has got to be the attitude going into it," Gerrard told the Press Assocation.
"It could be my last chance to win a World Cup, or even shine at one, so you want to give it everything you've got."
Gerrard also believes that the disappointment of 2006 and not qualifying for Euro 2008 will prove to be a valuable learning curve this time round with several members of the squad still present in the side travelling to South Africa.
"We have underachieved in the past," he said.
"Everyone around the world knows England have the tools in their armoury to do well. The challenge is to prove it.
"It is easy to say we are one of the favourites. The difficult thing is getting out of the group, then the last 16 and the last eight. There is a mental situation with this team in the last couple of tournaments where we have failed to get past the last eight.
"If we get past the last eight then the show is going to start."
With the news that Liverpool team-mate Jamie Carragher has returned to the international fold, Gerrard admits that the thought of retiring from international football has not crossed his mind just yet.
"I am sure a lot of players are coming to that age now where they will consider what the next best move will be after the World Cup," he said.
"But it depends on how well we do and also what the manager is thinking. In any case, it might be taken out of your hands.
"I have never considered finishing for England."
No trip to South Africa is complete without a visit to its most beautiful and sunniest city. Durban offers much more than sandy beaches, safaris, casinos and the World Cup, for information on what to do and see, please click here.
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Gerrard, who will turn 30 at the end of next month, is realistic in his assessment that this may well be his last opportunity to perform on the international stage.
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With team-mates Frank Lampard and Rio Ferdinand having surpassed that milestone already, and with John Terry and Ashley Cole not far behind, Gerrard feels that it could work in England's favour this summer.
"The feeling this is our last World Cup has got to be the attitude going into it," Gerrard told the Press Assocation.
"It could be my last chance to win a World Cup, or even shine at one, so you want to give it everything you've got."
Gerrard also believes that the disappointment of 2006 and not qualifying for Euro 2008 will prove to be a valuable learning curve this time round with several members of the squad still present in the side travelling to South Africa.
"We have underachieved in the past," he said.
"Everyone around the world knows England have the tools in their armoury to do well. The challenge is to prove it.
"It is easy to say we are one of the favourites. The difficult thing is getting out of the group, then the last 16 and the last eight. There is a mental situation with this team in the last couple of tournaments where we have failed to get past the last eight.
"If we get past the last eight then the show is going to start."
With the news that Liverpool team-mate Jamie Carragher has returned to the international fold, Gerrard admits that the thought of retiring from international football has not crossed his mind just yet.
"I am sure a lot of players are coming to that age now where they will consider what the next best move will be after the World Cup," he said.
"But it depends on how well we do and also what the manager is thinking. In any case, it might be taken out of your hands.
"I have never considered finishing for England."
No trip to South Africa is complete without a visit to its most beautiful and sunniest city. Durban offers much more than sandy beaches, safaris, casinos and the World Cup, for information on what to do and see, please click here.
Become a fan of Goal.com UK's Facebook fan page for all the latest news and insight into everything related to the beautiful game!
| Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
|
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
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| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
| Sign up with Paddy Power - Bet £10, Get £20! |
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Live!
England 1-0 Belgium, Netherlands 2-0 Northern Ireland - follow all the international action LIVE! ahead of Euro 2012
With countries across the continent gearing up for their final warm-up games ahead of Euro 2012, join us for all the action from Saturday's friendlies. Get in touch with us via Twitter with your reaction.
Hosted by Joe Doyle
Hosted by Joe Doyle
19:38 BST
Here's Roy Hodgson's reaction to the result and some injury chat: "I'm very pleased, it's been a hard week and we've used a lot of players. There was a lot of disruption in the second-half with substitutions – some forced upon us, some we wanted to do. But it's still a very good end to the week playing against a good Belgian team here. Arguably even stronger than the Norwegian team we played last week and I've got to be more than happy that we've come out with another victory."
"[Gary] Cahill I suppose is slightly more of a concern for me because it is a jaw injury. We're desperately hoping the CT scan doesn't show any fracture and it's just going to be a bruising situation, which will be bad enough, but won't stop him taking part in the tournament. As far as John's [Terry] concerned he felt his hamstring a little bit. Again it wasn't a major thing when he came off but we still need to scan it just to be 100 per cent sure."
Suffice to say, if Cahill has broken his jaw, he won't play any part in the tournament.
"[Gary] Cahill I suppose is slightly more of a concern for me because it is a jaw injury. We're desperately hoping the CT scan doesn't show any fracture and it's just going to be a bruising situation, which will be bad enough, but won't stop him taking part in the tournament. As far as John's [Terry] concerned he felt his hamstring a little bit. Again it wasn't a major thing when he came off but we still need to scan it just to be 100 per cent sure."
Suffice to say, if Cahill has broken his jaw, he won't play any part in the tournament.
19:35 BST
And another point from today: Eden Hazard wasn't great. Don't think you can judge him on one performance though. What do you think? Is it just a case of too much hype around the Chelsea-bound Belgian?
19:32 BST
We're getting plenty of people saying it was boring. PLENTY. But Spain scored seven goals in eight games at the World Cup and I didn't hear too many of their fans complaining. Or as Fran Stinchcombe points out on Twitter: "If we had lost but played free flowing attacking football would these people still have moaned?"
19:24 BST
No, no, no. I'll have none of that Emile Heskey shouting anymore! Hello, it's me, it's me, it's that D-O-Y-L-E. Yes, I'm Joe Doyle, and I'll be here for all the reaction to that England game. First things first, how did everyone see that game? Good performance? A touch boring? Let me know on Twitter.
19:17 BST
Right, that’s me, Danny Hart, done. Joe Doyle is itching to retain his LIVE! crown for the evening. England reaction, Netherlands-Northern Ireland updates and much, much more - Doyle will be across it all. England are gonna win the Euros! And remember: EMILE HESKEY. Cheerio!
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