The Official Soccer/Football/Futbol/Calcio thread

[Lumpold]

Originally Posted by theycallmedan'lboone

Funnyman I think thats what made Jamie Carragher say he's done...
He wasn't going to make it into the National Squad over Rio, John Terry and Ashley Cole... just not going to happen, even though he's a great defender. He said, why waste my time setting the pine for England when I can focus on who pays me.. If Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, John Terry say "hey boss, I can't play CL final is coming up don't want to risk injury" I think that is fine. If the US National Teams coach called me up and said "we need a water boy" I'd jump at the chance... But sure playing for your country is great, but if the player doesn't want to... why make him...

But then.... World Cup and Continental International Qualifiers are held during regular season... if player like Lampard, Gerrard, Cole, Terry and other bigger players feel playing in the qualifiers is too risky, do you then leave them out of your squad for the out of season competition, playing a weaker side just because it's who you qualified with? If you take that route, you risk playing a substandard side who will fail in the final tournament, leaving a braying British media calling for the managers resignation, and yet, on the other hand, will 'lesser' players even put in the effort in the qualifiers if they know there is a large chance they'll be dropped for a 'bigger' name when the actual comp comes round?