MX23RW : Saturday, December 28 09:43:11| >> :600:473048:473048:

Steven Gerrard targets final shot at international glory

Gerrard targets final shot at international glory
© PA Photos
Steven Gerrard says that England's qualification for the 2014 World Cup is "a must".

England captain Steven Gerrard has set his sights on qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and one last chance to claim international glory.

The 32-year-old is expected to take part in one final World Cup tournament for the Three Lions, should they qualify for the competition next year.

The Liverpool skipper believes that he and the rest of his generation can only be considered failures should they be unable to challenge for the biggest prize in football.

"It's a must for me to qualify from a personal, selfish point of view. An absolute must," Gerrard told The Mirror. "On one level, it's about the chance to compete against the best sides and individuals on the planet. On another, it's about having that small chance of coming back as heroes in an England shirt, which I have never experienced.

"I have dreamt about it of course. I am sure everyone has. I have got close to it. Penalty shootouts in the last eight are close but not close enough. I don't feel I have done myself justice at a World Cup. I don't think any England player of this generation can think they have. If you spoke to the squad that came back after 1990, they could be satisfied with how close they came and that they did everything they could and had no regrets.

"But I have always come out of the tournaments with England with regrets that we haven't gone to that extra stage, the last four or the last two. I take some of the responsibility for that. I have always been honest and said I am part of that squad of 23 players that comes back having underachieved. You can't hide behind anyone, you have got to take it on the chin and get on with it."

England face San Marino on Friday before travelling to Group H leaders Montenegro.

ID:75293: cacheID:75293:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2624:
Written by
Matt Cotton
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Steven Taylor on November 22 2012
Read Next:
Taylor: 'Capello thought I played midfield'
>
Read more about Steven Gerrard Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool17133140172342
2Arsenal18106235161936
3Chelsea18105338211735
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest1810442419534
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle188553021929
6Bournemouth188552721629
7Manchester CityMan City188463026428
8Fulham187742623328
9Aston Villa188462629-328
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton186842726126
11Brentford187383232024
12Tottenham HotspurSpurs1872939261323
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham186572330-723
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd186482124-322
15Everton173861522-717
16Crystal Palace183871826-817
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1843112940-1115
18Leicester CityLeicester1835102240-1814
19Ipswich TownIpswich1826101633-1712
20Southampton1813141137-266


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!