Gerrard: 2010 will be my last chance - Sport in brief - Evening Standard
       

Gerrard: 2010 will be my last chance

Steven Gerrard believes the 2010 World Cup could be his last chance to win football's most coveted prize.

The Liverpool captain will be 30 by the time Fabio Capello's side compete in South Africa next summer - assuming there are no last-gasp hiccups in their qualifying group.

Gerrard conceded that he may be past his prime by the time of the 2014 finals and said ahead of the upcoming clashes with Kazakhstan and Andorra: "Will this be the last chance to qualify for a World Cup? I would say so. If we qualify, I'll be 30 when the finals come around."

He added: "For me, it will be the last chance of doing well at a World Cup. Maybe by the time of the next one I might not be in my prime. That is a big motivation for me.

"We've now got these two important qualifiers coming up and if we want to play in the finals, we've got to get two good results.

"When we met up with the manager he said basically he wants the two wins to put us in the driving seat in the group. If we win these two games, we may possibly only need three more points.

"Of course, we know it will be warm in Kazakhstan and any international away from home is very difficult but there will be no excuses on our part.

"We should win these two games comfortably and put ourselves on the brink of going through."

Sport in brief in Pictures

Don't Miss
TV Baftas - in pictures

Best of the Baftas

Stars on the red, white and blue carpet
What makes Chelsea and Arsenal target Eden Hazard tick?

Hazard warning

What makes Chelsea and Arsenal target Eden Hazard tick?
You big softie: Has Giles Coren put down his poison pen?

You big softie

Has Giles Coren put down his poison pen?
Pop star Paloma Faith, former Labour minister and Tory blogger back gay marriage video

Gay marriage

Pop star, former Labour minister and Tory blogger back gay marriage video
Promethipedia: the lowdown on Ridley Scott's new blockbuster Prometheus

Promethipedia

The lowdown on Ridley Scott's new blockbuster Prometheus
Prints charming: patterned trousers for summer

Prints charming

Patterned trousers for summer
Bob Geldof on grandchildren, activism and the state of music

Grandpa Bob

Bob Geldof on grandchildren, activism and the state of music
The Middletan: Kate Middleton has the most requested tan in London

The Middletan

Kate Middleton has the most requested tan in London
Amy Childs bares all like Britney

Dare to bare

Amy Childs vajazzles like Britney
Trip the bright fantastic - in vertiginous neon

Fashion

Trip the bright fantastic - in vertiginous neon