With doubts over Rio Ferdinand and John Terry, and Wes Brown and Joleon Lescott ruled out through injury, Capello sought to talk Carragher out of an international retirement that lasted almost three years.
And explaining his change of heart, Carragher said: “The FA got in touch and asked if I would have a rethink, due to injury problems. I said I would make myself available.
“The World Cup and Champions League are the highest levels of football.
“I'm not getting any younger, we have no Champions League football next season and I am keen to work under Fabio Capello.”
Capello was less successful in his attempts to talk Wayne Bridge out of making himself unavailable, following the defender's much-publicised fall-out with former England captain John Terry.
And it has opened the door for Baines and Aston Villa’s Stephen Warnock, also included in the final 30, to fight it out for the role of Ashley Cole's understudy at left-back.
