Gerrard to decide on England future in ‘a few weeks’ time’

Sport360 staff 20:40 22/06/2014
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  • Under-pressure: England captain Gerrard (l) and manager Roy Hodgson face the press for the first time since being dumped out of the World Cup.

    England captain Steven Gerrard insists he needs time before making a decision over his international future.

    The Liverpool midfielder, 34, will mull over whether to announce his international retirement after Roy Hodgson's side crashed out of the World Cup at the group stage.

    He said: "There's no truth that I'll be making any announcement within a week. I think I need more time.

    "I am still hurting very bad, I'm broken from what's gone on over the last couple of weeks. I need to clear my head before I make that big decision."

    Asked if he had a hunch what his decision would be, Gerrard said: "Not at the moment, I need time.

    "I've agreed with the manager I'm going to speak to him in a few weeks' time."

    Hodgson has received the backing from Football Association chairman Greg Dyke.

    "I am very pleased of course that Greg and the board have come out and backed me to continue," said Hodgson. "We are midway through a term, there's lot of work to be done, but I think we are on a good path. I am very pleased I am going to be the man leading (the team).

    "It means a lot because the job means a lot to me. It's a fantastic job, it's a privilege to have it.

    "I am very pleased to have had that backing. Scapegoats are always necessary in times of failure, one understands that. But one would like to think the work that you do is judged over a long period of time."

    Hodgson said it would be "absolutely the wrong time" to talk about his future after 2016.

    "I am recovering from a very bitter experience, a very raw experience," he said.

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