No England players will play at both Euro 2012 and Olympics
Team GB men's football head coach Stuart Pearce will not select any Euro 2012 players for next year's Olympic Games
England players selected for next summer’s Euro 2012 finals will not be part of Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics.
Stuart Pearce, who will be a member of England manager Fabio Capello’s back room staff in Poland and the Ukraine before taking charge of the British men’s Olympic team, has reassured worried club managers that no player will be forced to play two summer international tournaments.
The move means that players such as Manchester United’s Phil Jones and Chris Smalling and Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere – who are all eligible for the predominantly under-23 British Olympic team – will probably not be part of the Games, considering they are considered highly likely for Euro 2012 selection.
Pearce claimed it was a “sensible football decision” considering the demands placed on players – especially with the Premier League season set to kick off the week after the Games conclude.
The England under-21 manager has also now finalised a long list of players – which is expected to include David Beckham, who has long been tipped as one of the Olympic squad’s three ‘over-age’ members.
Players will be asked to confirm whether they would be available for selection next summer – with the most interest surrounding non-English representatives, such as Welsh internationals Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale, whose home associations remain opposed to the formation of a British team.
