The Liverpool skipper has endured a series of disappointments in major tournaments since making his England debut over 11 years ago. Gerrard has seen the under-achieving national side fail to qualify for Euro 2008, crash out of two tournaments on penalties, while he missed the 2002 World Cup through injury. The 31-year-old, who has played just five games for Liverpool this season, is hoping to regain his international place before next summer. And then he intends to go out on a high with Fabio Capello's men in Poland and Ukraine. He said: "If you put things into perspective, we've only been successful at one tournament ever. That makes you realise just how difficult it is to be successful at this level. "But it would be nice, if this is to be my last tournament, to get to a semi-final or final rather than come away disappointed like we have been previously. "Going into any tournament as a player you always take it as your last because you never know what could happen two years down the line. "I'll be 32 by the time Euro 2012 comes around so whatever happens I'll be treating it as my last one." Gerrard's ambitions of English success look set to be hampered by the absence of the suspended Wayne Rooney in the early stages of the tournament. But he insists the Manchester United striker must be included in Capello's squad. Gerrard said: "If it was my decision then I'd certainly take him. "He's a player of such great ability and you can't leave him out."
