England World Cup Squad: Ashley Cole Excluded And Retires From International Football

Cole Out Of England Squad And Retires From International Football
|

Ashley Cole has retired from international football after being left out of England's World Cup squad.

England manager Roy Hodgson called Cole on Sunday night to inform him that he would not be in his 23-man squad for the tournament in Brazil.

The Chelsea defender, who has 107 caps, then took to Twitter to announce his retirement from the international arena.

Open Image Modal

Cole won 107 caps for England over the course of 13 years

Cole tweeted: "I got the call from Roy and agree England team should be about the young players. I think it best I retire from England team now."

Cole made his international debut against Albania in 2001 and had been a regular in the England side since.

The 33-year-old has started every tournament game since making his finals bow in the 2002 World Cup against Sweden and he is the country's fifth most-capped player.

Ashley Cole's England career
(01 of34)
Open Image Modal
First call-up, February 2001
(02 of34)
Open Image Modal
Struck down by a missile as England celebrate Andy Cole's first international goal in Albania, March 2001
(03 of34)
Open Image Modal
Chasing Steven Gerrard after he puts England 2-1 up in the 5-1, September 2001
(04 of34)
Open Image Modal
Lining up in a World Cup for the first time against Sweden, June 2002
(05 of34)
Open Image Modal
Letting Ariel Ortega know he's around
(06 of34)
Open Image Modal
A claustrophobic warmdown in Japan
(07 of34)
Open Image Modal
Losing out to Brazil in the first of four last four eliminations with England
(08 of34)
Open Image Modal
Holding firm in Istanbul as England qualify for Euro 2004, November 2003
(09 of34)
Open Image Modal
Thrown away: Leading 1-0 in the 90th minute, England lose their opening Euro 2004 game to France
(10 of34)
Open Image Modal
Handling Ronaldo in the quarters
(11 of34)
Open Image Modal
Scoring in the shootout, but England of course lost
(12 of34)
Open Image Modal
Clashing with Spain coach Luis Aragones, a week after he aired a racial slur about Thierry Henry
(13 of34)
Open Image Modal
'Who did that? They can't do that to Jay Tee...'
(14 of34)
Open Image Modal
Attention
(15 of34)
Open Image Modal
With Sven
(16 of34)
Open Image Modal
Bromance with Becks
(17 of34)
Open Image Modal
Celebrating England's opener against Paraguay at the 2006 World Cup
(18 of34)
Open Image Modal
Powerless to prevent Allback's equaliser
(19 of34)
Open Image Modal
A crucial block at 0-0 in the last 16 tie with Ecuador
(20 of34)
Open Image Modal
Celebrating with Beckham after he becomes the first England international to score at three World Cups, 2006
(21 of34)
Open Image Modal
Coach no.2, Steve
(22 of34)
Open Image Modal
Bearing the brunt of the boo boys against Kazakhstan at Wembley, October 2008
(23 of34)
Open Image Modal
Coach no.3, Fabio
(24 of34)
Open Image Modal
The start of a third World Cup, vs USA in South Africa 2010
(25 of34)
Open Image Modal
Getting heated in Bloemfontein...
(26 of34)
Open Image Modal
As England crash out spectacularly to Germany
(27 of34)
Open Image Modal
Keeping tabs on Bale, September 2011
(28 of34)
Open Image Modal
Coach no.4, Roy
(29 of34)
Open Image Modal
Starting in a second European Championship
(30 of34)
Open Image Modal
Thwarted by Buffon
(31 of34)
Open Image Modal
Loneliness...
(32 of34)
Open Image Modal
Elimination
FBL-WC2014-ENG-IRL-FRIENDLY(33 of34)
Open Image Modal
England manager Roy Hodgson applauds as England defender Ashley Cole is presented with a golden cap in recognition of 100 caps for the national team before kick-off of the international friendly football match between England and Republic of Ireland at Wembley Stadium in north London on May 29, 2013. AFP PHOTO / ADRIAN DENNISNOT FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING USE / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
England Training Session and Press Conference(34 of34)
Open Image Modal
BURTON-UPON-TRENT, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 04: Ashley Cole of England poses with a shirt to celebrate reaching 100 caps in Wednesday's friendly international against Brazil at Wembley, following an Engand training session at St Georges Park on February 4, 2013 in Burton-upon-Trent, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

The former Arsenal defender has performed well for his country at the 2002, 2006 and 2010 World Cups.

But he was always going to find it hard to earn a place in Hodgson's World Cup squad after losing his first-team place at Chelsea to Cesar Azpilicueta, who normally operates at right-back.

And Luke Shaw's emergence at Southampton finally put an end to Cole's World Cup dreams.

Cole will now have the entire summer to decide where his future lies.