Carragher made his full international return after his self imposed exile as a half-time substitute in the draw in Rustenburg last weekend.

The Liverpool man recalls the experience with pride and reveals knowing this is likely to be his final major competition with England is driving his World Cup ambition even further.

“I think knowing that you’re in the ‘last chance saloon’ does give you an added impetus,” he added.

“If you want to put yourself forward as a World Cup winner or do really well in the World Cup 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.

“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 onto the pitch and play in the World Cup.

“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, but a draw is not a disaster in the first game and there’s still more time to put it right.”