Carragher stands by England decision to land Liverpool title

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Carragher is standing by his belief, revealed in The Mail on Sunday last month, that he should focus on his club career despite personal pleas from McClaren for him to reconsider.

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The Liverpool defender's decision effectively ends his international career and opens the door for youngsters such as Tottenham's Michael Dawson — providing he recovers from an ankle injury — to take on Germany at Wembley.

Jonathan Woodgate and Ledley King are ruled out with knee injuries and captain John Terry also has knee trouble.

Incredibly, Carragher, 29, has played 185 games for club and country in the last three years and, backed by his club manager Rafa Benitez, believes it is time to focus on trying to earn a first Premiership winners' medal.

The popular defender has become increasingly aware of his footballing mortality and on Liverpool's pre-season trip to Hong Kong admitted: "I haven't got many years left and they will quickly go by. I am desperate to win that League winners' medal."

Carragher saw how international retirement benefited Paul Scholes and Alan Shearer at club level and being called a 'bottler' by a radio DJ stiffened his resolve to put his interests first after travelling the world with England, often to sit on the bench. He won 34 caps and a highlight was coming on as substitute in the 5-1 win in Germany in 2001 although he missed a retaken penalty in the World Cup quarter-final shootout against Portugal last year.

Benitez has to decide whether to play Carragher in the Champions League qualifier at Toulouse on Wednesday as Liverpool have to play Chelsea on Sunday. He said: "The qualifying stage is very dangerous but with Chelsea coming up, I also need to work with the squad."