Jamie Carragher: Why I am quitting England

Jul 9 2007 by Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

WHEN Jamie Carragher told Steve McClaren he was thinking of quitting international football, he felt the burden of a year of agonising lift from his shoulders.

McClaren, understandably concerned about the key Euro qualifiers ahead, asked the Liverpool defender to sleep on the decision.

In reality, Carragher has been doing precisely that for months, but he’s agreed to delay the inevitable.

This is not a knee jerk reaction by Carragher (although his recent omission in Estonia undoubtedly brought the current circumstances forward) but the consequence of a long period of careful consideration.

Carragher has been pondering his international future since the last World Cup, frustrated as a succession of England managers overlooked his claims for permanent first team status, while recognising younger blood was emerging and seemingly preferred by the current set-up.

His omission in favour of Ledley King in Estonia confirmed Carragher’s well established suspicions of where he stood on the international stage.

Too often he’s been shoved from pillar to post, or seen as the reliable substitute able to shift position at a moment’s notice.

At 29, the role of versatile deputy no longer appeals.

“There are a number of reasons why I’ve been thinking about this,” said Carragher.

“I first thought about it after the World Cup because I wondered how many chances I’d get for England at centre half.

“Then when Sol Campbell was out of the picture I thought I could put pressure on Rio Ferdinand for the other centre half position alongside John Terry.

“Given my form for Liverpool, I genuinely thought that was possible, but over the last 12 months players like Jonathan Woodgate and Ledley King have played there ahead of me.

“I can’t really argue with that because they’re top drawer players. It’s not as if they’re Mickey Mouse defenders.

“Even in the last two games against Brazil and Estonia, England conceded just one goal, so people can argue the manager got his decision spot on.

“It’s just that from a purely personal point of view, it’s been disappointing because after some of my performances for Liverpool I thought I deserved a chance.

“I hoped I could come in, play out of my skin and do well enough to keep my place, not just for one game or two, but cement it.

“It was particularly disappointing for me when Rio was out against Estonia and I wasn’t picked.

“I thought I’d had a good season for Liverpool, especially helping us get to the Champions League final.

“Like any player I thought I deserved to play, but not doing so made the situation crystal clear to me.

“Everyone can see England are very strong in the central defensive department at the moment. There are a lot of world class players there and most of them are younger than me, have their best years ahead and will get better and better.