The old guard, it seems, is coming to an end.

Next year’s World Cup in Brazil – assuming England qualify of course – will surely be the last hurrah for a handful of football stalwarts who have carried the weight of their country’s expectations on their shoulders for so long.

Steven Gerrard and Ashley Cole have both recently knocked up a century of appearances in an England shirt, while Rio Ferdinand is heading for the end of the road after 15 years and 81 caps as a defensive lynchpin.

Frank Lampard, currently facing uncertainty over his future at Chelsea, is just half a dozen appearances away from reaching his ‘ton’ for England and joining an elite club which until very recently had a membership of just five.

Most capped England player of all time is goalkeeper Peter Shilton on 125, with David Beckham – never again to pull on the famous shirt – the most-capped outfield player on 115.

Then comes the late Bobby Moore, with most caps for a defender on 108, Bobby Charlton on 106, Billy Wright on 105, and recently-admitted members of the club Gerrard (101) and Cole (100.)

Gerrard, one of the best players never to have won the Premier League, has been at the centre of Liverpool’s defence for 15 years, winning two FA Cups, 3 League Cups, one UEFA Cup and the Champions League, but in his long career he has never won the domestic title.

He will be 32 when the World Cup comes around, Lampard will turn 34 during the tournament, Ferdinand will be a few months short of his 34th birthday, and Cole will be nearly 32.

Within Touching Distance of the ‘Ton Up’ Club

• Famous names that came within touching distance of the ‘ton up’ club include Bryan Robson, who ended his England career on 90 appearances, the injury-prone Michael Owen on 89, Kenny Samson on 86, and Gary Neville on 85.

Wayne Rooney, still going strong after ten years as an international, has just notched up game number 79 for his country.

At 27, he has found the net 33 times while on England duty, and has Bobby Charlton’s long-standing record of 49 firmly in his sights.

• England’s qualifying campaign for next year’s World Cup continues next month with away games against San Marino on March 22 and Montenegro on the 26th, followed by Moldova at home on September 6th and Ukraine away on the 10th.

• The World Cup in Brazil takes place from June 12th to July 13th 2014.

Featured images:

•  License: Creative Commons image source
•  License: Creative Commons image source
•  License: Creative Commons image source
•  License: Creative Commons image source

Football enthusiast Nicki Gowers writes for Gear-Zone, on-line specialists in sportswear and equipment, outdoor clothing, camping and climbing equipment

Picture source: Flickr

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