Nation in mourning as England favourite James Milner quits international football

Saying goodbye is hard.

There were some of us who never thought we'd see the day when James Milner stepped away from the international fold.

But the Liverpool midfielder has hung up his England boots after 61 senior caps and 46 (forty-six!) under-21 appearances.

We can confirm that James Milner has retired from international duty after 61 appearances for the #ThreeLions. https://t.co/H2DCVOSQx7 — England (@England) August 5, 2016

Those caps brought a wealth of happy memories, like that time he came on as a 81st-minute sub against Croatia in 2009 with England already 5-1 up, or when he got a full run-out for that mile-a-minute goalless draw against Ireland in 2015.

He managed to go out on a high, with a glorious three minutes of magic at the European Championships in France.

Fans were lost for words after the former Leeds United, Newcastle United (oh yeah, he played for Newcastle), Aston Villa and Manchester City man called it quits, and you could almost picture them shedding a tear or two as they typed out their tributes.


thank fuck — Emre 🇹🇷 (@KingLedley_) August 5, 2016

finally, awful player — Youth and asian world football fan (@worldfootyfan) August 5, 2016

There was at least one positive, however, as Milner stepping away from the team gives Sam Allardyce a great opportunity to build on Wayne Rooney's impressive reinvention as a midfield supremo.

Rooney next please — Harroldinho (@Harry_White96) August 5, 2016

It also means Milner's club team-mate Jordan Henderson has a clear path to first-team action in an England shirt, after making such a great impression at Euro 2016.

Henderson next. — Jack Toulson (@JackToulson12) August 5, 2016

Thanks for everything, James. We know how much you're going to be missed.