craig 5,199 Posted July 2, 2012 Share Posted July 2, 2012 Not that I care too much but there are NO Scottish or NI players in the final GB squad. http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/article/2/7859251/stuart-pearce-names-gb-squad Team GB manager Stuart Pearce has not picked any Scottish or Northern Irish players for the tournament. The announcement of the squad confirmed that David Beckham has missed out with Ryan Giggs, Craig Bellamy and Micah Richards named as the three over-age players allowed - all the others have to be under-23. Swansea have three players named, the most of any club - Scott Sinclair, Joe Allen and Neil Taylor, while Tottenham defender Steven Caulker, who has also been included, was on loan at the Liberty Stadium last season. Chelsea's Daniel Sturridge is also chosen, as is Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey and Manchester United Tom Cleverley. Tottenham's Gareth Bale would have been selected but has been ruled out due to injury. Profiles Ryan Giggs Craig Bellamy Micah Richards Jack Butland Jason Steele Ryan Bertrand Steven Caulker Craig Dawson Neil Taylor James Tomkins Joe Allen Tom Cleverley Jack Cork Aaron Ramsey Danny Rose Scott Sinclair Marvin Sordell Daniel Sturridge Pearce said: "It has not been an easy task to finalise my squad for this tournament, and the stature of the competition and uniqueness of the occasion has underlined the importance of every choice I have made. "With just 18 places it is very different from other international tournaments, the options are limited, but it is the Olympic Games and every player in this squad should be very proud they have a chance to compete for a gold medal on home soil. "I remember the huge advantage we gained from playing in front of our own fans during Euro 96, and I'm sure with the nation behind us it could be a fantastic tournament for us." London 2012 will be the first time that Team GB have competed in the men's football competition since the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, where they finished third in their group. Team GB kick off their campaign at Manchester's Old Trafford against Senegal on July 26, play the United Arab Emirates at Wembley on July 29, before their final group fixture against Uruguay at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on August 1. Team GB chef de mission Andy Hunt said: "After a 52-year absence from the Olympic Games, it is fantastic to welcome the men's football squad to Team GB for London 2012. Representing your country at the Olympic Games is a very unique, special experience and I am sure this talented and determined group of men's footballers will play a full part as members of Team GB at our home Olympic Games. "The squad selected possesses a good blend of youth and experience, with 16 of the 18 selected athletes playing their football at the very highest level in the Premier League last season. In Stuart Pearce they have an experienced and passionate manager and I am sure the younger players will learn a lot from their time with Team GB at the Olympic Games. "Football fans from the across the UK are regarded worldwide as among the most passionate and knowledgeable supporters in the world and this summer offers a unique opportunity to get behind Team GB on home soil. I am confident that this famous vocal support will drive the young players on to produce many memorable and inspirational performances at the Olympic Games this summer." Squad: Jack Butland (Birmingham), Jason Steele (Middlesbrough); Ryan Bertrand (Chelsea), Steven Caulker (Tottenham), Craig Dawson (West Brom), Micah Richards (Manchester City), Neil Taylor (Swansea), James Tomkins (West Ham); Joe Allen (Swansea), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Jack Cork (Southampton), Ryan Giggs (Manchester United), Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal), Danny Rose (Tottenham), Scott Sinclair (Swansea); Craig Bellamy (Liverpool), Marvin Sordell (Bolton), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea). 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super_Ally 0 Posted July 2, 2012 Share Posted July 2, 2012 Dumb really. Now you're not going to get the full backing you could have done. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig 5,199 Posted July 2, 2012 Author Share Posted July 2, 2012 Dumb really. Now you're not going to get the full backing you could have done. Yep, there must have been some Scottish & NI players that could have been in the squad to make it more of a "Team GB". Given the Welsh clubs with professionals are effectively playing in the English leagues, this could easily be seen as an EPL team..... Also will probably make it harder for there to be a Team GB in future Olympics, although I personally see this as being a one-off anyway (in the modern era) because the Games are in the UK. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gribz 919 Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 Its known Pearce is anti-Scottish. Didnt he refuse to shake Scotland players hands once? The Scotland team is awful just now anyway but maybe someone like Jamie Ness would have fitted in well to this. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
54andcounting 0 Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 No Scots playing at Hampden. How our game has fallen. Thanks Pearce for contributing. It's only the olympics ffs! 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluedell 5,679 Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 Sure it's the SFA and the IFA to blame, rather than Pearce? It was them who refused to sanction Scots and NI guys rather than Pearce himself. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gribz 919 Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 Sure it's the SFA and the IFA to blame, rather than Pearce? It was them who refused to sanction Scots and NI guys rather than Pearce himself. They did say that, but Steven Fletcher is on the standby list. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
foggy dewhurst 0 Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 should have been six players from the four home nations 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexscottislegend 2,378 Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 They did say that, but Steven Fletcher is on the standby list.How do you know that? They only named the 18 selected. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
calscot 0 Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 I believe there was a short-list of 35 with 3 Scots in it - including Fletcher. I see the English have bullishly jumped on this saying that it's great that the team has been picked on merit only. However, how many know if those picked are actually the best 18 players from the choices available? What is Pearce's knowledge of Scotland and NI's under 23 scenes? 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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