‘Gareth felt I still had a lot to offer’
game after the international break.”
Southgate will name his squad for the home match against Spain in the UEFA Nations League at Wembley a week on Saturday and then the friendly at home to Switzerland the following Tuesday, ironically at Leicester’s King Power Stadium.
Vardy has been included in every squad since his first call-up in May 2015 and has 26 caps. He first told Southgate of his intention to concentrate on club football at the end of the World Cup – and he confirmed the decision to him earlier this month. “To be honest with you, this has been on my mind for a while,” said Vardy.
“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.
“Gareth said that he felt I still had a lot to offer, and we’ve not shut the door completely. If the worst came to happen and everyone was injured, then obviously I wouldn’t say no.”
Cahill has 61 caps after making his debut in September 2010 and will be 33 in December.
“I think it’s time that I take a step back now,” said the Chelsea defender. “It’s the right moment. 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.
“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.”
Jamie Carragher in 2007 and Ben Foster in 2011 both retired from England duty before returning to win more caps.
JAMIE VARDY has quit international football after starting only one match at the World Cup.
And Gary Cahill has also retired from England duty before Gareth Southgate names his first postRussia squad tomorrow.
Both players and the FA stressed the decisions were made after open and honest discussions since the World Cup with the Three Lions manager.
Vardy, 31, and Cahill, 32, said they would play for England again in any injury emergency.
Leicester striker Vardy called Southgate “brilliant” but admitted he had been frustrated at his lack of game time, including playing only the final eight minutes of extra-time in the semi-final against Croatia. He only started the group game against Belgium.
“I thought I could have helped a bit more if I had more minutes,” said the 2015-16 Premier League winner. “You know that you can hurt opponents in certain ways, in the way you play. But it wasn’t to be. And you have to respect the manager’s decisions.
“When you get selected, you want to be playing. If you’re playing week in, week out for your club, you want to be going to England to play as well.
“And if it’s not happening, then for me personally now, at this age, it’s better to be at home, spending that time with my family and training with my club, preparing for the next