Gary Cahill has followed Jamie Vardy in making himself unavailable for England.
The Chelsea centre-half was unlikely to be called up by Gareth Southgate this week for games against Spain and Switzerland after not playing a minute for his club under Maurizio Sarri this season. He won the last of his 61 caps in the 1-0 defeat to Belgium at the World Cup.
“I think it’s time that I take a step back now. It’s the right moment to do that. I’ve been hugely proud of what I’ve achieved, over 60 caps, I’ve captained my country on a few occasions, which has been a huge honour and something I’ve been really proud of,” Gary Cahill told Chelsea’s official app, The 5th Stand.
“At the same time, in your football career you never want to shut a door completely, I’ve been hugely honoured to play for my country and if I’m ever needed, I’m there.”
Vardy and Cahill were two of the only over-30 players in Southgate’s World Cup squad; the other is Ashley Young.
The 32-year-old defender, who was the most capped member of Gareth Southgate’s squad in Russia this summer, has struggled to force his way into Maurizio Sarri’s first team so far this season. And ahead of the announcement of the squad for the start of the Uefa Nations League later this week Cahill has told Southgate he doesn’t want to be considered for the time being at least.
“It’s time to take a step back,” he told Chelsea TV. I feel it’s the right moment to do that. If I’m ever needed in the future then obviously I’m there.”
Cahill was appointed as the Chelsea club captain ahead of the 2017–18 season, following John Terry’s departure. On 12 August 2017, in the first match of Chelsea’s 2017–18 season against Burnley at Stamford Bridge, Cahill was sent off in the 13th minute of the match for a reckless studs-up challenge on Burnley midfielder Steven Defour, culminating in a sequence of events that saw Chelsea begin their title defence with a shock 3–2 defeat to a Burnley team that had only won once away from home in the previous season.
Cahill was suspended for Chelsea’s league matches against rivals Tottenham Hotspur, Everton and Leicester City. He captained Chelsea to victory at Wembley Stadium in the 2018 FA Cup Final, his team beating Manchester United 1–0.