John Stones speaks out on international retirement before England vs France bronze match

England centre-back John Stones has spoken out on whether he’ll retire from international football after the World Cup.

Stones, who is currently without a club after the expiry of his Manchester City contract, started in England’s 2-1 World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday, July 15, marking his 94th senior international cap.

Ahead of the tournament, there were concerns over Stones’ fitness as he made just nine Premier League appearances for City last term while struggling to get into Pep Guardiola’s side even when he was fit.

Despite the lack of football, Thomas Tuchel maintained trust in the defender, who got the nod over Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Trent Alexander-Arnold when the 26-man squad was announced ahead of the tournament.

Stones has featured five times during the tournament and may also participate in Saturday’s bronze medal match against France in Miami.

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The centre-back was on media duties ahead of England’s final World Cup match and what some have suggested could be Stones’ last match for the Three Lions after representing his country at five major tournaments (he was also in the Euro 2016 squad but did not play).

John Stones speaks out on international retirement

However, it appears that Stones has no plans to retire from international football.

When asked about his situation at the pre-match press conference, Stones insisted he doesn’t plan to stop representing his country "anytime soon" before explaining how he felt after England’s semi-final defeat.

"I think everyone's been allowed that grace period and is still going through suffering, pain," Stones said. "A lot of things, a lot of emotions that are very natural to everyone.

"I think us as players can get quite fixated on anger or frustration from personal situations, circumstances throughout that game.

"But very quick to forget how proud we should be, or I am, of every single person within our camp, our squad. The effort, the sacrifice, everything that goes into it - not just players - that has got us to this point.

"The love and the belief and the support from back home. The fans in the stadium. All the moments, all the memories that have been incredible throughout this journey.

"I think the nature of the game and the nature of us as players is we take things very personally, and that's why we are where we are and why we are always striving for better, striving for more, and rightly so.

"We were all on the same path and the same wavelength, the same belief that we could get to the very end of this and believe that we could win it, and I think everyone felt that.

"That's why to go out in a semi-final hurts even more because we believe so much and didn't get to where we believe we should be."

He added: "My feeling or recollection of the game is so blurred still.

"I'm in a state of all emotions, really.

"A lot of time since the game to reflect, play scenarios over in my head and it's very easy to say 'what if?' and what we could have done, and me personally as well if I was in different positions.

"Yeah, it's a tough thing to kind of get over or digest straight away and that's the position and the cruel position that we're in right now.

"I think it'll become apparent and clear once the emotions die down.

"I think [France] coming round so quick is another good focus for us to go and get a bronze medal. Something that I've not been able to do."

Stones has been linked with joining several clubs, including Italy’s Inter and Juventus, as well as the Premier League’s Everton and Leeds United.