England captain Gerrard retires from international soccer

Tuesday, 22 July 2014 00:16 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Reuters: England captain Steven Gerrard has announced his retirement from international soccer, the Football Association said on Monday. The Liverpool midfielder won 114 caps for his country after making his debut in a 2-0 win over Ukraine at Wembley in 2000. “I have enjoyed every minute of representing my country, and it is a sad day for me knowing that I won’t pull on the England shirt again,” he told the FA’s website (thefa.com). Gerrard’s appearance at the World Cup in Brazil last month was the sixth time he had represented England at a major tournament, but it ended in failure as Roy Hodgson’s side went out at the group stage. Gerrard appeared to be particularly affected by the disappointment - never more so than after the 2-1 defeat by Uruguay, when his misjudged header allowed Luis Suarez to score the late winner. The 34-year-old said he was retiring from internationals in part to ensure he can keep playing at a high level for Liverpool. “I’d like to firstly thank my family and friends for all their support throughout my England journey,” Gerrard said. “I’d also like to thank everyone who has been part of my international career, from the England managers I’ve played under to the staff at the FA and, of course, all the players I’ve been fortunate to play alongside. “In particular, the supporters have been amazing, not least in Brazil, when they got behind the team despite the disappointing results. To ensure I can keep playing to a high level and giving everything to Liverpool, I believe this is the right decision, and having Champions League football back at Anfield is another big factor in my decision.” Gerrard captained England 38 times, scored 21 goals for his country, and was the third most capped England player of all time behind Peter Shilton (125) and David Beckham (115). His final appearance was against Costa Rica at the World Cup, when he came on as a 73rd-minute substitute in a 0-0 draw. The FA said Gerrard will continue his strong relationship with the governing body in a “high profile ambassadorial role”.