John Stones shares his thoughts on retiring from international play before England’s bronze match against France.
England centre-back John Stones recently shared his thoughts on whether he plans to retire from international football after the World Cup.
Stones, who is currently without a club after his contract with Manchester City ended, played in England’s 2-1 World Cup semi-final loss to Argentina on July 15 in Atlanta, marking his 94th appearance for the senior national team.
Before the tournament, many worried about Stones’ fitness since he only played nine Premier League games last season and had trouble getting into Pep Guardiola’s lineup, even when fit. Despite this, England coach Thomas Tuchel trusted him, choosing Stones over Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, and Trent Alexander-Arnold for the 26-man squad.
Stones has played five matches so far in the World Cup and might also take part in England’s bronze medal game against France in Miami this Saturday.
During a recent press event before England’s final World Cup match, some thought Stones might be ending his international career after representing England in five major tournaments (he was also part of Euro 2016 but didn’t play). However, Stones made it clear he doesn’t plan to retire from international football anytime soon.
At the press conference, Stones said he’s still feeling the pain from the semi-final loss but that everyone deserves time to process their emotions. He mentioned how easy it is for players to focus on frustration and anger from the game, but also reminded everyone to be proud of the team’s hard work, effort, and sacrifices that got them this far.
He spoke warmly about the support from fans and the many memorable moments throughout the journey. Stones explained that players take things very personally, which is why they always push to improve. He said the team truly believed they could win the tournament, which made the loss even harder to handle.
Reflecting on the match, Stones admitted his memories are still hazy because of the strong feelings he has and the many “what if” scenarios running through his mind. He knows it will take time to fully come to terms with the result but sees the upcoming bronze medal match against France as a positive chance to focus and earn a medal he hasn’t won before.
On the club front, Stones has been linked with moves to several teams, including Italy’s Inter and Juventus, as well as Premier League clubs Everton and Leeds United.