FABIO CAPELLO’S attempts to restore credibility to his England tenure suffered a double blow last night when Wes Brown swiftly followed Paul Robinson in turning his back on international football.
Wes Brown and Paul Robinson turned their backs on international football and Fabio Capello
Manchester United defender Brown told Capello in person yesterday that he was retiring from England after first reporting to the team’s plush Hertfordshire hotel after being selected for the friendly with Hungary on Wednesday.
Brown
put club before country after insisting he wants to concentrate on
regaining his fitness fully for United boss Sir Alex Ferguson and drew
a line under a 23-cap England career.
The
decision followed hard on the heels of Blackburn goalkeeper Robinson’s
announcement that he had no intention of being third choice behind Joe
Hart and Ben Foster at the age of 30.
England
will now have a squad of 21 for the friendly and both Brown and
Robinson’s decisions beg the question why Capello did not check who
wanted to play for him following the nation’s dismal showing at the
World Cup.
Robinson’s withdrawal will give
Hart the chance to establish himself as the No 1 for both club and
country. The England job is now down to a straight fight between Hart
and Birmingham’s Ben Foster. Hart is set to get the nod to start
against Hungary.
Roberto Mancini, meanwhile, is
understood to have made up his mind to give Hart the chance to become
Manchester City’s first choice by playing him in the Saturday’s opener
at Tottenham.
Mancini hopes to sign Aston Villa’s James Milner and Mario Balotelli, from Inter Milan, by the end of the week.
Hertfordshire hotel after being selected for the friendly with Hungary on Wednesday.
Brown
put club before country after insisting he wants to concentrate on
regaining his fitness fully for United boss Sir Alex Ferguson and drew
a line under a 23-cap England career.
The
decision followed hard on the heels of Blackburn goalkeeper Robinson’s
announcement that he had no intention of being third choice behind Joe
Hart and Ben Foster at the age of 30.
England
will now have a squad of 21 for the friendly and both Brown and
Robinson’s decisions beg the question why Capello did not check who
wanted to play for him following the nation’s dismal showing at the
World Cup.
Robinson’s withdrawal will give
Hart the chance to establish himself as the No 1 for both club and
country. The England job is now down to a straight fight between Hart
and Birmingham’s Ben Foster. Hart is set to get the nod to start
against Hungary.
Roberto Mancini, meanwhile, is
understood to have made up his mind to give Hart the chance to become
Manchester City’s first choice by playing him in the Saturday’s opener
at Tottenham.
Mancini hopes to sign Aston Villa’s James Milner and Mario Balotelli, from Inter Milan, by the end of the week.
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