Yeah, but if push comes to shove, can't the FA make them? Isn't that what France did with Makelele?
I don't recall that. I can't see how players can be made to play if they don't want, couldn't he threaten to score an og like Gallas?
Well, Makelele announced his retirement from international football, was still called up, was made to go.
In other news, Carlos Vela returns for Mexico after a 3 year absense and immediately scored 2 goals to exact revenge against the Dutch.
Should have gotten him back.
Rex wrote: As an aside - can players really boycott their NTs any more? Aren't they obliged to go if called up, or they can be punished in their club football? Is that just a European thing?
As an aside - can players really boycott their NTs any more? Aren't they obliged to go if called up, or they can be punished in their club football? Is that just a European thing?
In theory maybe, but not in practice. The player who doesn't want to play could just play badly on purpose with no way to prove it. There would be no point in using him.
FBI moves ahead with FIFA corruption probe: http://edition.cnn.com/2014/11/13/politics/fbi-fifa-corruption-probe/index.html
WOW! Sophia Loren was worried Jayne Mansfields dress was going to blow! :drool:
Nothing to do with Blatter of course.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/sep/09/world-cup-2022-sepp-blatter-qatar
Fair play, who could have predicted that it would be hot in Qutar in the summer?
invisibleman18 wrote: And here's the winning goal too.
And here's the winning goal too.
Now I've read that even though nothing really happened during ordinary time, five minutes were added. And the goals came in the 96th and the 100th minutes. 😆 The referee has been banned indefinitely.
The socks beat the paddies then. Ouch if you're Irish
Better than Greece, who lost to the Faroe Islands at home 😆
Very likely to have good arsenal representation in the England line up today. Baines pulled out of the squad leaving Gibbs as the only available LB. Sturridge still out means Welbeck should start at CF. Wilshere and Chamberlain should be nailed on starters. Unsure who wins the RB battle Chambers V Clyne. Walcott probably won't start today but might against Scotland.
Clyne picked ahead of Chambers, Lallana starts instead of Chamberlain.
England XI vs. Slovenia: Hart; Gibbs, Jagielka, Cahill, Clyne; Lallana, Wilshere, Henderson, Sterling; Rooney, Welbeck.
Clyne deserves it, got shafted last time.
Decent first half by England. A lot of the ball, created very little. That sound familiar? 🙂
As usual Wilshere has created a couple of good opportunities for Rooney and as usual Rooney has wasted them. The 40 yard ball behind the defence in the 4th minute was superb. England's best player again in this game - enjoys this deeper role for England. Clyne also has been decent.
Henderson has been embarrassingly bad. Sterling had a crap first half but starting to get into the game now. Lallana hasn't been good but I like the way he plays.
And now, Henderson OG. Sums up his game.
sign up Handanovic.
Welbeck scuffs the potential winner. He needed a goal. 4 goals in 4 games in this qualifying group.
edit: Welbeck scores again! Lovely link up play and finish.
Ox on.
Wilshere deservedly gets the sponsor's MOTM award (3rd or 4th in a row, I think). Hodgson has found the perfect role for him.
Wilshere with a strong display, Welbeck with a brace, Gibbs being solid, Oxlade getting a few minutes and almost scoring a goal. No injuries too, so happy days.
