Goalkeepers: Joe Hart, Scott Carson, Phil Jagielka (Why not, he is quite good in goal!) Defenders: Kyle Walker, Micah Richards, Gary Cahill, Ashley Cole, Leighton Baines, Phil Jones, Ryan Shawcross Midfielders: Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, James Milner, Joe Cole, Scott Parker, Gareth Barry, Strikers / Wing Forwards: Wayne Rooney, Andy Carroll, Danny Welbeck, Daniel Sturridge, Theo Walcott, Peter Crouch, Ashley Young, Formation: 4 3 3
I would not take Caroll and I just heard today that it looks like Terry is going to be included, disgrace.
I'd take both Richards and Johnson, with Richards being first choice of course, what other RB is good enough at international level (excluding Walker)
Did I hear Rio is out? Also, I would be taking Oxide Chamberlin as a wild card. The kid plays with no fear & his pace is blistering
Looks like Ferdinand is out, but not due to injury http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4319047/Rio-Ferdinand-out-of-England-Euro-2012-squad.html Peter Crouch, Micah Richards, Phil Jagielka and Kyle Walker wont be going either. Andy Carroll looks like he is going to get the nod as well.
England managers always seem to go mostly on technical ability and club form, completely overlooking how much the player actually WANTS to play for England. This, to me, is the major failing and why half the players on the pitch look like they can't be assed.
You're not going to believe this, Marko, but this is something else I concur with! Christ! We could be going out on a date next! The one glaring exception was Ramsey. He always maintained that he picked a team, not the best players (read it in Jack Charlton's biography, as Jack asked why he'd been picked when he wasn't the most gifted centre half in the country).
And look what happened when Ramsey did that... Our best performances in the qualifiers were when the youngsters were given a run out, because they truly wanted it. Pick players who still see playing for their country as an honour and not a chore. Forget Terry, forget Rooney, forget all the premadonnas who just don't seem to give a ****. Lampard and Gerrard have always made the cut for me, they are honest players in comparison to the rest of the game who've shown nothing but desire in an England shirt. Get the Walcotts and the Wilshires and the Welbecks and all the young players who haven't been spoilt by their clubs yet.
It's also why I rate Defoe above other strikers. He might not be the best we've got but he always puts his heart into it.
To be fair to some of the players, the pressure put on them by their clubs to withdraw (i.e. appear not to show desire) can be tremendous. Would you dare say 'no' to Fergie, and possibly risk your career (and for some, more importantly, the untold riches!). It's not a new problem. Scotland used to have a large number of withdrawals, and they all seemed to play for Liverpool or scum.
I think fergie is a bastard, I think he's overrated and wouldn't have done so well if it weren't for his club selling out the league for a marketing opportunity and giving them a massive head start and a massive advantage over the rest of the league. I think as a result he's garnered more respect than he deserves, never humble in defeat, always snide comments and "but they got given it", when he gets the same treatment it's "that's the right decision by the letter of the law" or "that's the way it goes in football" - never an admission that he's been handed something on a plate. If I were a player I'd never play for em, but if it were down to unfortunate circumstances I'd ignore half the **** he spouts. I'd play for England and put 110% into it and if I got a bollocking for getting injured I'd tell him to stick it up his ass, and tell him suggesting I don't play for my country is insulting.
BREAKING FOOTBALL NEWS England squad for Euro 2012: Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Man City), Rob Green (West Ham), John Ruddy (Norwich) Defenders: Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Man United), John Terry (Chelsea), Joleon Lescott (Man City), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Leighton Baines (Everton) Midfielders: Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Stewart Downing (Liverpool), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Gareth Barry (Man City), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Scott Parker (Tottenham), Ashley Young (Man United), James Milner (Man City) Forwards: Wayne Rooney (Man United), Danny Welbeck (Man United), Andy Carroll (Liverpool), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham)
