Look at Pepe – Kyle Walker has no plans to call time on international career

Kyle Walker may be the oldest player in England’s Euro 2024 squad but he is taking inspiration from the likes of Pepe and Luka Modric, insisting he is nowhere near ready to hang up his international boots.

The 34-year-old has been a mainstay of Gareth Southgate’s side in recent years and is now playing in his fifth major tournament with England – who face Denmark in Group C on Thursday knowing victory will see them advance to the last 16 at Euro 2024.

Walker captained Manchester City to a fourth consecutive Premier League crown last season and remains among the top right-backs in the world.

Southgate revealed last year that he has twice had to talk Walker out of international retirement but now the defender is determined to keep going.

Asked if he thought this could be his last tournament and therefore add more motivation to win a first major international trophy, he replied: “Of course I want to go as far as I can.

“To represent my country as many times as I have done – honestly, I never thought I’d do it once, so to do it for the amount of years I’ve done it, I have to say is a credit to myself.

“But I look at Pepe last night and he’s 41 playing for Portugal. So, they’re the levels people are setting now, the likes of Luka Modric, people like that.

“These are people carrying on for top teams at a top level for a considerable amount of time. If they can do it, why can’t I?”

The 2026 World Cup in Mexico, Canada and the United States is a realistic target for Walker.

We know we needed to start with a win and we have. Was a tough game against a strong well drilled team.
Delighted to get a clean sheet.
Thank you for the support in the ground and back at home. It's incredible and means soo much to us.
Bring on Thursday