LONDON, England, May 24 – England midfielder Steven Gerrard on Thursday ruled out retiring from international football after Euro 2012.
The injury-plagued 31-year-old, who will captain England in Poland and Ukraine, said he wants to prove to new England boss Roy Hodgson that he can continue on until the next World Cup in Brazil.
“I can understand that at my age people are going to start questioning me and asking me if I’m going to quit England and focus on Liverpool, but I don’t see it like that,” Gerrard told the Daily Mirror.
“I don’t think I have a decision to make. I love playing for England, I love playing for Liverpool.”
The midfielder admitted however that he must first impress manager Hodgson during the European tournament from June 8 to July 1.
“I think it’s going to be a case of let’s see how I perform in this tournament,” he said. “Let’s see if first and foremost I have a future with this manager if he’s keen for me to stay about.
“If the manager says to me at the start of next season that he thinks I did well in the tournament, that he wants me to stick about, that he can protect me, not overuse me and that I have a big part to play, I’m sure I will carry on.
“If the England manager says to me that he wants me to stay around for Brazil, that would be a nice carrot on the end of the string for me.
“That would be a good tournament for me to bow out at, but there are a lot of things to consider.
“The way I look at it at the moment is my body is in the best shape it’s been in for many years. My groin problems are all behind me and I feel strong.”
