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In the last few months the English FA have written to 191 players enquiring as to whether or not they would like to be considered for selection for ‘Team GB’ at the 2012 Olympics. Out of those who received letters, 184 indicated that they would like to be considered for selection, demonstrating a massive showing of support across Great Britain for the team.

The Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish football associations have all publicly opposed the idea of Team GB on the basis that it could lead to the loss of the special status of the Home Nations, established under FIFA’s constitution. The fear among those football associations is that Team GB could eventually lead to a united Great Britain national team in all FIFA competitions.

Despite this, the associations have all confirmed that they will not actively stop the participation of any player who wishes to play for Great Britain. With the FA and the British Olympic Association playing down fears that Team GB could put the identity of the individual nations in jeopardy, it comes as no great surprise to learn that many of the 184 who indicated eligibility for selection come from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

“Players recognise how special this opportunity is,” Darryl Seibel, a spokesman for the British Olympic Association said. “It confirms what we have believed all along, which is that there is widespread interest among players in competing for Team GB at the London 2012 Games.”

Manager Stuart Pearce must now gradually narrow down the 184 players to form a squad of 18. Players called up to represent England at Euro 2012 will not be eligible for selection and with only three spaces in the 18-man squad reserved for ‘over-age’ players, the squad must contain 15 players aged 23 or younger.

So who could potentially line up for Pearce’s Team GB?

David Beckham is the most obvious name linked with a place in the squad. Beckham, 36, was contacted by the Football Association and recently confirmed he had held talks with Stuart Pearce about the possibility of not only featuring, but captaining the side.

“To lead the team into the Olympics would be special for any player,” Beckham stated. “I know how exciting it is for our nation to have the Olympics in the East End of London, especially for me, growing up in the East End.”

“As for being captain of the GB Team, I’ve had conversations with Stuart but being selected is not even decided yet. If I am fit, healthy and in form, then hopefully I will be in the team.”

Stuart Pearce has also publicly hinted at Beckham’s inclusion. “The fact David will be mid-season [in MLS] and the fitness involved with being match-fit at the time, will be helpful.”

Having recently won the MLS Cup with LA Galaxy, David Beckham will still feel he has a lot to offer Team GB on the field. His involvement would also give the BOA a fantastic opportunity to sell shirts and market the Team GB brand around the world.

Other over-age players contacted by the FA include Manchester United veteran Ryan Giggs, who has indicated his willingness to be considered for selection, and Joe Cole, currently playing his football for Lille in France.

Rio Ferdinand was also contacted, although the British Olympic Association have confirmed that he is unavailable for selection, having previously served a nine-month ban for missing a drugs test. Assuming fit, Ferdinand is also likely to be included in the England squad for Euro 2012.

Wolves striker Steven Fletcher, 24, and Celtic midfielder Scott Brown, 26, have been approached, and there may even be interest in tempting Paul Scholes, who recently came out of retirement to help out Manchester United.

The basis of the squad however must be formed of younger players. Arsenal midfielder and Wales captain Aaron Ramsey posed in a promotional Team GB jersey last year and has repeatedly expressed his desire to be considered for selection.

“You’re representing Great Britain in the Olympics. Having the chance to win a gold medal doesn’t come around very often,” Ramsey told Four Four Two magazine.

“Players, if given the opportunity, should go ahead and do it; I don’t see what the problem is.”

As the captain of his national side, Aaron Ramsey seems a very likely inclusion in the squad and perhaps alongside Beckham seems the most likely potential skipper.

Ramsey also indicated that his internation team mate Gareth Bale would be willing to participate.

“I’ve spoken to Gareth Bale and he’s up for it. I think the Welsh are fine with it. It’s up to the players.”

On current form, Bale seems a certainty to be selected. He too was featured in a photo shoot for the Team GB promotional jersey and spoke of his excitement at the prospect of representing Team GB.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience in London, in Great Britain, playing in front of the home fans. Hopefully everything can get sorted and I can play if selected.”

Bale also qualified his statement by insisting that Wales remained his priority.

“The most important thing for me is Wales as a country. I’m proud to play for Wales. If there was any possibility that Wales would go then obviously I wouldn’t play [for Team GB].”

The only other player to pose in a Team GB shirt so far is Everton midfielder Jack Rodwell. However, his recent involvement with the senior England team may throw his participation in doubt.

Crystal Palace pair Nathaniel Clyne and Wilfried Zaha were among the 184 who confirmed their availability for selection. And it is believed that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was also contacted. His selection may rely on getting consistent playing time with Arsenal between now and the end of the season.

Fabio Capello’s Euro 2012 squad selection remains crucial for Team GB. Omissions from Capello’s squad could open the door for the likes of Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Micah Richards, Jack Wilshere and Kieran Gibbs to feature for Pearce’s side instead.

Team GB are expected to play two friendly fixtures at Villa Park in preparation for the Olympics. The dates of those fixtures will be announced soon. They will then open their Olympic campaign at Old Trafford, Manchester on 26 July 2012.

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Perennially crocked Man United striker Michael Owen has today stated his intention to fight for a spot back in the England national team set-up so that he attempt to surpass Bobby Charlton’s goalscoring record, which for the record stands at 49, whereas the 32 year old Old Trafford striker has been stuck on 40 since his last international goal, way back in September 2007.

He said: “I am proud of what I did for England and what I have done. Obviously Sir Bobby’s records are in my sights. I am still here.”

“As soon as Fabio Capello took over, that was it,” he said. “I was on the bench for his first game in charge after having been an automatic starter for 10 years, and then after that I wasn’t in the squad. The manager is the only man who will know the answer why.”

“You have to accept it. If you get upset and angry to start with, if you will keep getting wound up. You have to let it go and that’s that.

“I don’t know why, that’s something you have to ask the current manager. Once you make a decision then maybe you’ve made the decision. That’s it, and even if I kept scoring I don’t know what would have happened.” Quotes courtesy of the Daily Mirror.

Now one can’t help but wonder why Michael Owen.may not be able to see the reason that Fabio Capello hasn’t picked the England veteran for the past few years. It may well have something to do with the fact that for a large chunk of his Newcastle United and Man United spells he has been out injured with one knock of another.

Indeed Michael Owen.is currently sidelined with a thigh problem and hasn’t played since November and hasn’t made a Premier League start since October 2010. Perhaps the former Liverpool and Real Madrid man should keep his mind on trying to get fit and healthy so that he can get first team football at Man United before getting ahead of himself in relation to an international call-up that simply will not occur until the striker can prove that he can play a game or two without falling down in agony.

Frankly whilst Michael Owen still dreams of an England recall he is more likely to injure himself getting out of bed after said dream than he has of winning his 90th cap.

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England striker Wayne Rooney’s ban for the Euro 2012 Championship has been reduced to two matches from three after an appeal to Uefa in Switzerland.

He was punished after being sent off for kicking Miodrag Dzudovic during a 2-2 draw with Montenegro in October.

Rooney, 26, will now be available for England’s third Group D game, against joint hosts Ukraine, but will miss the fixtures against France and Sweden.

The third match of his ban has been suspended for four years.

SOURCE: BBC Sport

This is a bit of a result for Fabio and the England national team. This turn-around, though not as good as a reversal of the ban (which was never on the cards), means that Wayne Rooney will sit out matches with France and Sweden but will be available for selection the match against hosts Ukraine.

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Fabio Capello has confirmed he will not stay on as England manager beyond the end of their Euro 2012 campaign.

Capello’s £6m-a-year contract expires in the summer and the 65-year-old has already been linked with other jobs.

Sir Trevor Brooking, the Football Association’s director of football development, had suggested that he could continue after a strong campaign.

But Capello has ruled out signing a new deal, insisting “as an England manager, this is it for me”.

SOURCE: BBC Sport

But what if he wins the Euros?

Some slightly mixed messages coming from the FA on this matter. Trevor Brooking yesterday said he wouldn’t rule out Fabio remaining in post after the finals in Ukraine and Poland, only for the Italian to state categorically that he will in fact quit as England boss regardless of the outcome next summer.

Perhaps Trevor should have just spoken to Fabio before making any statement that ultimately makes the FA director of football development look at little silly.

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Why the glum faces? The usual hubris and hyperbole from English media and fans surrounding the performance of the national team seems to have been replaced in recent months with a tipid tone of resignation, of acceptance that this team will not succeed at Euro 2012.

But wait a minute; let’s take a look at the facts. A victory over the World and European champions, Spain, followed up by the first success over arch-nemesis Sweden for 43 years (ending a 12 game winless streak), albeit both in friendlies, preceded by an assured and unbeaten qualifying campaign, which saw England comfortably through to the Euro 2012 Finals, with just 5 goals conceded in 8 games. So why have we all jumped off the bandwagon of bloated expectations just when things are actually starting to look quite good?

In fairness to those who fail to be inspired by England’s professional displays in the last week, the side has become something of a national emblem of disappointment, even embarrassment over the last 15 years; a period in which wearing the three lions on one’s chest seems to have invoked fear in its bearer, rather than in the opponent. Despite a ‘golden’ generation of players, fans have come to expect failure, so much so that even now, when England actually look to have a promising team once again, no one dare to describe them as a polished outfit, let alone as contenders for a major championships.

But let’s take heads out of hands and embrace the future, because things are looking good, no really. Consider the best side (in this writer’s opinion) that Fabio Capello, could put out: Joe Hart in goal; Kyle Walker, John Terry, Phil Jones and Ashley Cole at the back; Walcott and Young on the wings; a central midfield of Scott Parker, Jack Wilshere and Steven Gerrard, with Wayne Rooney up front. Now that is an excellent side. And it’s not just excellent on paper, like Sven’s talented but disjointed teams; this one should actually work on the pitch.

The positives of such a side are plentiful. Gerrard and Rooney link up well, Wilshere is the key player that England have been missing for years – the one who can get the team moving without bypassing the midfield; meanwhile Walcott and Young look consistently dangerous on the wings, with both able to come inside as well as deliver dangerous crosses. Walcott’s improvement this season must be a big boost for Fabio Capello.

But perhaps the greatest asset of this team is its defence. Kyle Walker, man of the match against Sweden, looks like he has the potential to match Ashley Cole’s consistently excellent performances for England, both in providing a potent attacking option whilst remaining assured at the back, meanwhile at the centre-back position, England are spoilt, as much as any international side. Indeed, various incarnations of the back line confidently kept out Spain and Sweden, with Joe Hart, finally the excellent keeper England have looked for since the retirement of David Seaman, rarely troubled.     

This team, at full-strength, really could trouble any other side. In particular it has the pace and potential for swift counter-attack necessary to shake the stability and structure which has helped to make Spain look invincible in competitive matches in recent years. Indeed it could be relatively similar in style and substance to the outstanding German side which blew England away in a 4-1 demolition at the last world cup. At least Capello has now learned what many before him failed to do so, that 4-4-2 is out-dated.

But, and of course there is a but, this line-up has not played together regularly, with injuries, particularly to Gerrard and Wilshere – its beating heart – preventing the development of a team, or at least of a team capable of going places in Poland and Ukraine in 2012. And with Rooney suspended for the first three games of the tournament (pending an appeal by the FA), Capello will in any case be unable to play such an eleven in the group stages of the tournament.

However, if all of England’s stars are fit going into the group stages, there’s no reason why Capello can’t forge a team unity and purpose that could be brought to bear in the knockout rounds, should the Rooney-less England make it that far. And what’s really important, yes, that old nugget, this team has a blend of youth and experience, the kind that can lead to both young and old inspiring each other to go further.

Morale-boosting speech over, this writer is ducking back down under the safety blanket of low expectations, but not so far that the bright light of hope is completely vanquished.

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Scotland manager Craig Levein insists counterpart Fabio Capello must pray that Spain have an off-day when they take on England in a friendly at Wembley on Saturday.

The Scots lost 3-1 to the World and European champions in Alicante last month to conclude their unsuccessful Euro 2012 qualifying campaign.

Asked if he had any advice for England, Levein, in Cyprus for tomorrow night’s friendly, told TalkSport: “Keep your fingers crossed, that’s all.

“You hope Spain aren’t in form, that’s what you’ve got to do.

“For the first time in my life as a manager in that game against Spain, we were getting a chasing for a while, and I found myself actually watching the opposition and appreciating how well they were playing.

“Usually you are so frustrated that your own team isn’t doing well if that is the case but they played some fabulous football.

“The lads said afterwards that they thought they defended quite well and I agreed with them but they move the ball so quickly the concentration levels for defenders have to be 100% all the time.

“If you make one slight error they take advantage of it.”

Levein claims the trip to Cyprus has already been of benefit to him even before the game has taken place.

The Scots flew out from Glasgow in Monday with questions being asked about the validity of the exercise.

However, Levein added: “Already it has been beneficial. We had two training sessions yesterday, one the day before.

“The training arena is fantastic, the weather is good and we have had plenty of time with the players.

“It’s about getting to know players and we have a few new faces in this time.

“And I have found in the last year or so that the time in the training camps is just as important as the game.”

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Aston Villa striker Darren Bent will use England’s friendly with Spain to prove he can perform against the best and convince Fabio Capello to include him in his Euro 2012 squad.

Bent spearheads one of the least experienced strikeforces assembled by Capello, who will miss his son’s wedding in Italy as it clashes with Saturday’s game at Wembley

The Aston Villa player has won only 11 caps himself but that is five more than the combined tally of the other strikers in Capello’s squad – Gabriel Agbonlahor (three caps), Danny Welbeck (two), Bobby Zamora (one) and Daniel Sturridge (none).

Bent has netted four goals in his last five internationals but he is not getting ahead of himself after missing out on selection for the 2006 and 2010 World Cups.

He knows showing what he is capable of against the World and European champions can only enhance his chances of being on the plane to Poland and Ukraine next June.

“I remember playing against Brazil a couple of years ago and thinking ‘wow, I’ve never played a team like it’,” Bent said. “This is going up another gear.

“Spain are the best team in the world, who won the last World Cup and the Euros. They’ve got players out of this world and will be a great game to be involved in.

“It would be great to play against someone like Spain and prove you can handle yourself at that level.

“There is no-one better. They are the top, top level and you are going to meet people like them next summer so it’s a chance to show what you can do.”

Bent has slotted in effectively in tandem with Wayne Rooney, who has been left out of this squad following his three-match ban for the Euro finals while Capello experiments.

But the former Sunderland player has had enough international setbacks to take nothing for granted.

He said: “Some people have said to me ‘you are a regular player now for England’ but I don’t want to count my chickens because a lot has happened to me with England squads.

“My caution is after missing out on the 2010 finals. So much can change, even going back to 2006 when I got left out of those finals as well.

“I can’t count my chickens but if I keep playing well, and the ball keeps flying in the net, then that’s all I can do.”

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Harry Redknapp – Tottenham Hotspur

Everyones favourite to take the job but the Spurs boss has his eyes on the Champions League. If he manages to get Tottenham back into the top four, another crack at club’s top prize my be too good an opportunity to turn down.

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The Football Association confirmed England manager Fabio Capello will miss his son’s wedding in Italy as it clashes with Saturday’s friendly against Spain at Wembley.

Capello’s youngest son, 36-year-old Pierfilippo, is tying the knot with his partner, Tiziana, in Milan.

It was originally intended that England’s friendly against world and European champions Spain would be played on Friday evening.

But the match was put back to Saturday as Barcelona – who provide eight of the Spanish squad – are in action this evening against L’Hospitalet in the Copa del Rey.

Capello’s wife, Laura, will be attending the wedding ceremony.

The clash for Capello became apparent after England’s Euro 2012 qualifier with Montenegro in Podgorica last month.

England host another international friendly against Sweden on Tuesday and Capello has no plans at present to return to Italy in between the two games.

England’s players will be given time to relax on Sunday but will have to report back to the team hotel in Hertfordshire in the evening.

All 25 members of the squad are expected to meet up during the latter part of this evening before training for the first time tomorrow.

However, major injury doubts continue to surround Everton centre-back Phil Jagielka.

He has a hairline fracture of his toe which will be assessed overnight by England’s medical staff.

“It is not a problem, absolutely not,” Pierfilippo told the Independent.

“He is a football manager first; he has been that ever since I was a child and sometimes being a football manager can make strange demands on your time.

“You just have to accept that.”

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