Jamie Carragher has insisted he has no complaints about being denied the
chance to play centre-back for England after hailing John Terry and Rio
Ferdinand as two of the best players in the world.
Carragher has been in outstanding form at the heart of the Liverpool defence
and earned praise from England coach Steve McClaren for his recent performances
against Manchester United and Barcelona.
But he will again have to be content with playing at left-back as a stand-in
for the suspended Ashley Cole and injured Wayne Bridge in Saturday's Euro
2008 qualifier against Israel in Tel Aviv.
Carragher said: 'I'd love to play at centre-half for England but John
Terry and Rio Ferdinand were probably two of our best players in the World
Cup last summer.
'You can't really argue with that. For me, John Terry is the best centre-back
in the world. Over the last three or four years, I wouldn't have anyone
ahead of him.
'Then you've got Rio who was as good as anyone at the World Cup, a ?30million
defender, so I am in no position to complain about not playing at centre-back.
You are talking about world-class players.
'When I come away with England, hopefully I can learn off them. You are
always trying to improve.'
Carragher could be entitled to feel unlucky playing in an era when central
defence is one of England's main strengths but he is philosophical about
the situation.
He said: 'It is just one of those things. I've still got 30 odd caps for
England and hopefully I can get a few more before my England career finishes.
'Playing for England, you are always going to have competition. We have
some of the best players in the world. It's just unfortunate they are
all at centre-back!
'But when you are playing for England, you are delighted to play anywhere
- and if the manager thinks I can do that job at full-back, then great.
'If he asks me to do that, I am sure I'll be doing a lot of work on the
training ground in the next few days because it isn't something I have
done at Liverpool for a while.
'But I have played there before. I played a whole season there for Liverpool
and we did all right and hopefully I'll be able to produce that form.
'It is more demanding physically. I played there for a spell in the World
Cup and you can tell the difference physically.
'Maybe being centre-back is more of a mental thing really. It takes more
out of you mentally rather than physically.'
Carragher is modest when asked if he is currently in the best form of
his career.
He said: 'I am doing all right. Liverpool are doing well, the team is
doing well in the Champions League and that helps. There is big media
interest around the world and you get a bit more attention.
'I was told the England manager has been praising me and that is nice.
Hopefully that will get me in the team. Hopefully he will pick me.'
Carragher is aware of the importance of Saturday's clash as England finally
are given the opportunity to erase the memory of the 0-0 home draw with
Macedonia and the 2-0 reversal in Croatia.
He said: 'We realise how important this game is and hopefully we can raise
our level of performance.
'We don't want to lose the game. But if we lose, we are not out. Equally
if we win, we will not have qualified. It will be a big disappointment
but we don't want to put that type of pressure on the game - that if we
lose, that's the end of it.
'There are still a lot of points at stake. It's not the be all and end
all.'
Steven Gerrard enjoyed a day to remember after collecting his MBE
from the Queen at Buckingham Palace and then training with England at
the new Wembley Stadium for the first time.
The Liverpool captain was awarded the accolade in the New Year's Honours
list, which was presented to him today, and was in recognition of Gerrard's
contribution to his club, particularly their 2005 Champions League victory.
'It has been a brilliant experience. It is not every day you get to meet
the Queen and train at Wembley,' said Gerrard, 26.
'I would like to thank my family, friends, team-mates and coaches who
have helped me throughout my career.'
