STEVEN GERRARD will soon switch off his mobile phone, blocking out the well-wishers to create a World Cup wall of silence.
For Gerrard it has to be this way, a specialist in tournament trauma after considering moves to Chelsea at Euro 2004 and again at the 2006 World Cup.
This time it's Real Madrid and the ambition of Manchester City that are potential distractions, waiting for the moment to show Liverpool the money.
Gerrard's future could be away from Anfield, concerned by the current climate of financial uncertainty at the club and a reluctance to work under Rafa Benitez again.
The Liverpool skipper revealed: "I won't think about my future or think about what is going to happen to me at Liverpool until after the World Cup.
"I fell into that trap at the last World Cup when I was driving myself mad thinking about my future. This time I won't make the same mistake.
"There has been a lot of speculation about my future for the last two or three months, but it's been that way for many years.
"Hopefully, things might happen while I'm away. There might be players coming into Liverpool to help strengthen the team.
"I'll have to wait and see, but I'm not really interested at the moment in what's going on at Liverpool. My main focus is the World Cup.
"This season we took steps backwards at Liverpool.
"That's the disappointing thing and it has been a very difficult season, both personally and for everyone in the squad, to deal with the amount of setbacks that we've had. It was a massive disappointment after finishing second the previous season."
This time the soul-searching and the sleepless nights can wait, with Gerrard's one-track mind focusing on a World Cup without outside influences.
At 29, he fears this could be his last tournament, leaving behind the thoughts about his future and blocking out the negativity for another crack at the World Cup.
Gerrard added: "I feel as though I am experienced enough to 'park' issues like my future.
"When you are with England you focus on England games. There's a long time after the World Cup, once its over, to change your focus back to Liverpool.
"But as a footballer I've always said I look forward rather than back. There's a massive tournament round the corner and I've got to change my focus to England. I've got to make sure I do everything I can to help make this team successful.
"For me, I am really focused and determined to put all my energy into playing for England.
"People around me are under strict instruction not to be talking about my club future or the speculation because it's not important right now.
"What is important is I have a good and successful World Cup. My agents, friends and family have been told not to be talking about club stuff to me."
His mind has been frazzled before, stick or twist when Jose Mourinho pursued him throughout Euro 2004.
Gerrard could not cope, pacing his hotel room, reading national newspapers and scanning the internet for updates on a move south to Stamford Bridge.
It affected his form, making the fatal pass-back against France that was intercepted by the willing legs of Thierry Henry in the group game.
He was pre-occupied, full of anxiety at a time when all his efforts should have been applied to making England great again.
He added: "I used to go back to my room and read the papers, go on the internet and then speak to people at home. They were telling me what was going on.
"I knew Chelsea wanted me because my agent was telling me, but this year that won't be happening.
"Every time I went back to my room I was driving myself mad thinking about whether I should move to Chelsea or not.
"Mentally, it might have drained me. I don't know if it did or not, but it might have and I won't be making that mistake again."
This time he will banish the talk of a transfer to Real Madrid or Manchester City, committing himself to Club England.
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