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After eight years and 61 appearances for the Three Lions, England’s Brave Gary Cahill is “stepping back” from international duty. But don’t call it a retirement! If the next generation is too poor — and beyond Harry Maguire, it’s not looking all that great — Cahill would be ready to serve with emergency bravery once more.
“I think in terms of my international future I think it’s time I take a step back now. I feel that it’s the right moment to do that.”
“I have been hugely proud of what I have achieved in terms of over 60 caps, I’ve captained my country on a few occasions which has been a huge honour, it’s something I have been really proud of in terms of my career.”
“I can see now it’s going in a younger generation and I think for me to take a step back now is the perfect time.”
-Gary Cahill; source: Chelsea TV via Guardian
Cahill is not alone in this decision. With a similar mindset, Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy is also taking a break from the Three Lions.
“To be honest with you, this has been on my mind for a while. I’m not getting any younger and you can see, to be fair to the gaffer, he wants to make it more youthful, which obviously had its benefits during the World Cup – we got to the semi-finals and finished fourth, which is equal to the furthest we have ever been on foreign soil.”
“So I just said to Gareth that I think it’s probably best from now on, especially with the way he wants to go, to bring youngsters in who he thinks have got the ability and start nurturing them into international football.”
-Jamie Vardy; Source: Guardian
Cahill, 32, and Vardy, 31, were both part of the England squad at the World Cup this summer, but were only rotational figures as Gareth Southgate’s lion cubs took the national team to the semifinals for the first time since 1990.
Cahill, like the recently also retired from international duty Victor Moses, will now be concentrating on club football, as he looks to get off the bench and into the good graces of new Chelsea head coach Maurizio Sarri.