I didn't actually mind playing on the left - but with England it was different, I just wasn't enjoying playing for England. Do I regret stopping early? Yeah, I probably do' Paul Scholes on why he REALLY retired from international duty

"No, a lot of people make that assumption, but I played on the left for United loads of times when Giggsy was injured, Scholes tells FourFourTwo. I didn't actually mind playing there, especially for United. I scored a lot of goals from that position for United, but with England it was different, we just played a different type of football. The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week. I just wasn't enjoying playing for England."

"For most players, earning 66 caps for England would be the culmination of years of hard graft and the realisation of their potential. But while Paul Scholes enjoyed a trophy-laden domestic career with Manchester United and was one of the most talented players of his generation anywhere in the world, it's hard to argue that his Three Lions career reflected the nature of his talent."

Paul Scholes won 66 caps for England and scored 14 goals while featuring in two World Cups and two European Championships. Scholes formed part of England's so-called Golden Generation that repeatedly reached international quarter-finals. Competition from Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard often pushed Scholes into a wide role for England, though he had played left midfield for Manchester United with success. Scholes stated that England played a different type of football and that he was not enjoying playing for the national side. His final England appearance came after the Euro 2004 quarter-final penalty defeat to Portugal at age 29. He continued his club career with Manchester United for another nine seasons.

Read at www.fourfourtwo.com