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Bridge refuses England call up
Wayne Bridge told the England camp on Thursday morning that he is not ready to be in the same dressing room as John Terry and has wished the team well at the World Cup in South Africa.
GettyImagesWayne Bridge has thrown in the international towel.
Bridge, whose ex-partner had an alleged affair with Terry, was less than enthusiastic following Thursday's phone call inviting him to join up with the England squad for next Wednesday's friendly with Egypt at Wembley.
And the Manchester City defender has released a statement through his lawyers confirming his decision to reject an international call-up, and has seemingly ruled himself out of a place in Fabio Capello's World Cup squad.
"I have thought long and hard about my position in the England football team in the light of the reporting and events over the last few weeks," the statement said.
"It has always been an honour to play for England. However, after careful thought I believe my position in the squad is now untenable and potentially divisive.
"Sadly therefore I feel for the sake of the team and in order to avoid what will be inevitable distractions, I have decided not to put myself forward for selection.
"I have today informed the management of this decision. I wish the team all the very best in South Africa."
Capello had expected the Manchester City left-back to return to the England team with Ashley Cole injured. Soccernet understands that England officials have asked Bridge to re-consider his stance, but that now seems unlikely.
Bridge's refusal to join up with England may leave Capello needing to call up both Everton's Leighton Baines and Blackburn's Stephen Warnock.
With Cole in a race for his fitness in time for South Africa, the England coach had been relying on Bridge to put his personal grievances to one side, particularly as Capello took on the challenge of stripping Terry of the England captaincy. But Bridge is in no mood to forgive Terry after his alleged affair with Vanessa Perroncel, the mother of his child.
The England camp have suggested that Bridge should ignore his personal feud with Terry for the good of his own career, and his chances of going to South Africa. But Bridge cannot face the prospect of being in close proximity to his former Chelsea colleague even for the short period of the build-up to the Egypt game, so it would be intolerable to be in his company for more than six weeks this summer.
The Manchester City defender also has the emotional turmoil of facing Terry when their clubs clash this weekend, and clearly he is in no mood to shake the Chelsea captain's hand in the traditional pre-match exchanges between Premier League sides.
Capello alerted 32 players on Thursday to prepare to be in the final squad of 23 for the Egypt game as the England coach awaits medical updates on Jermain Defoe, injured in Spurs FA Cup replay win over Bolton, and the latest back problem to affect Rio Ferdinand, who has been unlikely to be included for some time.
The Manchester United defender had already been ruled out of Sunday's Carling Cup final at Wembley against Aston Villa because of the same injury. "He won't be fit for the England game - that is obvious," said United manager Sir Alex Ferguson. Liverpool midfielder Steve Gerrard is sure to lead England in his absence.
If Ferdinand continued to have problems and missed the World Cup, and Gerrard went down with an injury, Frank Lampard would then step up, although the impossible might become possible and Terry might even be considered to return as England captain.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-c...cc=5901&ver=us
Bridge refuses England call up
Wayne Bridge told the England camp on Thursday morning that he is not ready to be in the same dressing room as John Terry and has wished the team well at the World Cup in South Africa.
GettyImagesWayne Bridge has thrown in the international towel. Bridge, whose ex-partner had an alleged affair with Terry, was less than enthusiastic following Thursday's phone call inviting him to join up with the England squad for next Wednesday's friendly with Egypt at Wembley.
And the Manchester City defender has released a statement through his lawyers confirming his decision to reject an international call-up, and has seemingly ruled himself out of a place in Fabio Capello's World Cup squad.
"I have thought long and hard about my position in the England football team in the light of the reporting and events over the last few weeks," the statement said.
"It has always been an honour to play for England. However, after careful thought I believe my position in the squad is now untenable and potentially divisive.
"Sadly therefore I feel for the sake of the team and in order to avoid what will be inevitable distractions, I have decided not to put myself forward for selection.
"I have today informed the management of this decision. I wish the team all the very best in South Africa."
Capello had expected the Manchester City left-back to return to the England team with Ashley Cole injured. Soccernet understands that England officials have asked Bridge to re-consider his stance, but that now seems unlikely.
Bridge's refusal to join up with England may leave Capello needing to call up both Everton's Leighton Baines and Blackburn's Stephen Warnock.
With Cole in a race for his fitness in time for South Africa, the England coach had been relying on Bridge to put his personal grievances to one side, particularly as Capello took on the challenge of stripping Terry of the England captaincy. But Bridge is in no mood to forgive Terry after his alleged affair with Vanessa Perroncel, the mother of his child.
The England camp have suggested that Bridge should ignore his personal feud with Terry for the good of his own career, and his chances of going to South Africa. But Bridge cannot face the prospect of being in close proximity to his former Chelsea colleague even for the short period of the build-up to the Egypt game, so it would be intolerable to be in his company for more than six weeks this summer.
The Manchester City defender also has the emotional turmoil of facing Terry when their clubs clash this weekend, and clearly he is in no mood to shake the Chelsea captain's hand in the traditional pre-match exchanges between Premier League sides.
Capello alerted 32 players on Thursday to prepare to be in the final squad of 23 for the Egypt game as the England coach awaits medical updates on Jermain Defoe, injured in Spurs FA Cup replay win over Bolton, and the latest back problem to affect Rio Ferdinand, who has been unlikely to be included for some time.
The Manchester United defender had already been ruled out of Sunday's Carling Cup final at Wembley against Aston Villa because of the same injury. "He won't be fit for the England game - that is obvious," said United manager Sir Alex Ferguson. Liverpool midfielder Steve Gerrard is sure to lead England in his absence.
If Ferdinand continued to have problems and missed the World Cup, and Gerrard went down with an injury, Frank Lampard would then step up, although the impossible might become possible and Terry might even be considered to return as England captain.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-c...cc=5901&ver=us
Paul Marin -19 is one thing, 20 is a whole other matter. It gets even worse if they win the UCL. *groan*. 
05/18/2011.MU fans naah cough, but all a unuh a vomit?-Lazie 1/11/2015
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