why no gb olmpic footy team?

[jaybo]

That'll be because there isn't one , they'd never get all the FA's to agree to it . Although i heard somewhere last week that come 2012 they will . . JJ .

[colonel]

The four FAs will not put a team together in case FIFA insist that they merge for all competitons- domestic leagues, World Cup, Euros, etc.

To this extent , the Scots and Welsh FAs have said that they will not support or allow their players to enter a Great Britain side in 2012- and so it looks like being the England team with the Northern Ireland skipper as a token team member and an England regular in his position put on the bench.

[diplodocus]

they can't because the olympic team is a GB team, maybe they could at a Commonwealth games (if they had footy) but not at the olympics

I'd like to see a GB team play, if they can sort the politics out

[JamesW]

".... and an England regular in his position put on the bench."


There aren't any England regulars at under-23 level because England don't have a regular under-23 team.

Don't forget the Olympic football tournament is an under-23 one.

It's also doubtful that Northern Ireland will co-operate as you suggest. Along with Scotland and Wales, it's likely that they will realise that any co-operation from them will undermine their independent status.

If England alone want to represent GB there won't be any problem. If any of the other home nations go along with it they are simply putting their heads on the chopping block.

[Peter]

JamesW wrote:


>
> If England alone want to represent GB there won't be any
> problem. If any of the other home nations go along with it
> they are simply putting their heads on the chopping block.
>
>

Wasn't one of the ideas to have a home international play-off, winners to represent GB?

But yes, the moment we enter the Olympics under the GB banner, UEFA & FIFA, who both hate the strength of English football and are obsessed with pushing more and more 3rd world, 5th rate countries into the finals, would insist we entered the world cup as GB too, so that the likes of Latvia would stand a better chance of qualifying.

[JamesW]

I see that Mr Brown has now jumped on the bandwagon and called for a true GB football team for 2012.

According to the Scottish National Party "the vast majority of people don't want this, it's a spectacular own goal for Brown."

[nikonman]

If it was a true GB team i wonder how many non English players would get in on merit.

Also i would place Stuart Pearce in as team manager.
He seems to be doing a great job has the under 21 manager.
It will also be great experience for him for being a successor to Capello
has he would be put under pressure has the team will be expected to perform.

[Peter]

Surprised he hasn't gone for a 'Europe' team. He seems to like ignoring what the people want when it comes to European matters.