(Reuters) - At his best a midfield marauder who inspired team-mates and scored goals in equal measure, Steven Gerrard on Monday retired from England duty as the country's third most-capped player after an international career that promised more than it delivered.
His relatively disappointing tally of 21 goals in 114 appearances, including several important and some spectacular strikes, reflected one truth about the Liverpool skipper - that, for all his glorious talents, he was ultimately an unfulfilled, if natural and respected, leader for England.