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Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher drinking in England's last chance saloon at World Cup 2010
Reds stalwart knows it's now or never to become a legend
18 Jun 2010 10:31:00
By Zack Wilson
Liverpooll centre-back Jamie Carragher has conceded that this World Cup will be his last chance to establish himself as an England great.
At 32 years of age, the versatile defender is well aware that this is in all likelihood his last World Cup.
Which means that he will be even more driven to succeed when the Three Lions tangle with Algeria in Cape Town on Friday evening.
"I think knowing that you're in the last chance saloon does give you an added impetus," Carragher said, according to his club's official website.
"If you want to put yourself forward as a World Cup winner after your career has finished, it probably does give you an extra incentive.
"There are a lot of players in the squad around the 30 mark. In four years' time we'll be getting to our mid-thirties, so maybe it might be difficult to still be there in Brazil. I think the lads realise that for a lot of us anyway, it may be the last chance."
Carragher was pleased that he managed to get onto the pitch in England's opening game against the USA and he is now looking forward to being more involved before the tournament ends.
"I came into the squad and realised I wouldn't be first choice so I wasn't sure if I was going to actually get on to the pitch and play in the World Cup," he added.
"I enjoyed the fact that I'd come on and got 45 minutes under my belt. Hopefully I can be involved a little bit more, but the first game of any World Cup is massive and, to be involved in it, I was delighted.
"It isn't easy coming on in a World Cup match at half-time, and I think we were a bit unlucky not to get the three points in the end."
The veteran also does not believe that a draw against the USA was in any way a bad result.
"The first game is always very tough, but the last three tournaments we've done best in - 1966, 1990 and 1996 - we didn't win the first game either so that's something to look at and to look at positively," he added.
"We need to realise that the first game isn't the be all and end all - there's still a long way to go.
"The aim was to come out of the group, hopefully top the group and that's still the objective.
"It would have been great to get the three points against USA but I think everyone realises that in the first game, it's very important not to lose as well. A good win over Algeria is important."
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At 32 years of age, the versatile defender is well aware that this is in all likelihood his last World Cup.
Which means that he will be even more driven to succeed when the Three Lions tangle with Algeria in Cape Town on Friday evening.
"I think knowing that you're in the last chance saloon does give you an added impetus," Carragher said, according to his club's official website.
"If you want to put yourself forward as a World Cup winner after your career has finished, it probably does give you an extra incentive.
"There are a lot of players in the squad around the 30 mark. In four years' time we'll be getting to our mid-thirties, so maybe it might be difficult to still be there in Brazil. I think the lads realise that for a lot of us anyway, it may be the last chance."
Carragher was pleased that he managed to get onto the pitch in England's opening game against the USA and he is now looking forward to being more involved before the tournament ends.
"I came into the squad and realised I wouldn't be first choice so I wasn't sure if I was going to actually get on to the pitch and play in the World Cup," he added.
"I enjoyed the fact that I'd come on and got 45 minutes under my belt. Hopefully I can be involved a little bit more, but the first game of any World Cup is massive and, to be involved in it, I was delighted.
"It isn't easy coming on in a World Cup match at half-time, and I think we were a bit unlucky not to get the three points in the end."
The veteran also does not believe that a draw against the USA was in any way a bad result.
"The first game is always very tough, but the last three tournaments we've done best in - 1966, 1990 and 1996 - we didn't win the first game either so that's something to look at and to look at positively," he added.
"We need to realise that the first game isn't the be all and end all - there's still a long way to go.
"The aim was to come out of the group, hopefully top the group and that's still the objective.
"It would have been great to get the three points against USA but I think everyone realises that in the first game, it's very important not to lose as well. A good win over Algeria is important."
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