The Custodian May 12, 2014
Chelsea's Ashley Cole has retired
from international football after being left out of England's World Cup squad.
The 33-year-old left-back won 107
caps and played at three World Cups.
Southampton left-back Luke Shaw, 18,
will be included when England manager Roy Hodgson names
his 23-man squad, plus seven standby players, on Monday.
"I got the call from Roy and
agree the England team should be about the young players. I think it best I
retire from the England team now," said Cole.
"We have a great manager and
team and I wish them only success. I will be supporting them like a true fan.
Thanks to everyone for everything," Cole added on
Twitter.
"Leighton Baines and Shaw are
great players, proved this season, and are the future of this country, it was a
pleasure to get 107 caps.
"Like me or not, trust me it's
hurt me to stop playing for my country #proud and #honoured."
Hodgson, who will name his squad at
14:00 BST, said leaving Cole out of his squad for Brazil was "one of the
hardest decisions of my career".
"He's been an incredible
competitor for England," added Hodgson. "To amass over a century of
caps is a truly staggering achievement and he deserves enormous credit for the
desire and brilliance which has shone through over the years he has represented
his country.
"There are few players who can
be considered among the very best in the world, but Ashley in his prime was the
best left-back without question.
"In two years working with him
he has shown nothing but relentless professionalism, and a great hunger to play
for England. He is someone I have the utmost respect for and I wished him all
the best, he in turn wished the team well this summer.
"Of course I must respect his
decision to retire. He has been one of England's finest players, but I want to
look to the future."
Cole made his international debut
against Albania in March 2001.
He became only the seventh England
player to reach a century of caps when he appeared in a friendly win over
Brazil in February 2013.
But his opportunities at club level
have been limited this season.
The former Arsenal player made only
one substitute appearance in three months from late January for Chelsea,
although he did return to the side against Liverpool and Atletico Madrid.
It had been thought he might leave
Chelsea this summer, but boss
Jose Mourinho hinted this week that the veteran could yet stay at
Stamford Bridge.
Shaw's inclusion caps a fantastic
season for the teenager, who made 38 appearances for Southampton in all
competitions as they finished eighth in the Premier League.
He made his England debut in March's
1-0 friendly win over Denmark, coming on at half-time for Cole. Shaw was only
five years old when Cole won his first cap.
Ex-England
manager Graham Taylor and former
left-back Graham Le Saux both told BBC Sport in recent weeks they
would choose Shaw ahead of Cole, while Baines's form had seen him become the
favourite to start when England play their World Cup opener against Italy on 14
June.
Match of the
Day host Gary Lineker tweeted: "Gracious words from
Ashley Cole. Wish him well, he's been a terrific player."
And, on his final Match of the Day
appearance, Alan Hansen added: "He has been one of the greatest players
the Premier League has seen. As a full-back for Arsenal, Chelsea and England
there is nobody better in Premier League history.
"I would have taken him but I
can understand why Roy Hodgson hasn't. I watched him play in the Champions
League and against Liverpool and he was excellent but he hasn't been playing a
lot and that's probably the reason why Roy hasn't taken him."
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