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Arsenal legend Ian Wright has slammed the recent retirements from international football of Manchester United defender Wes Brown and Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper Paul Robinson, suggesting their actions represent a wider issue in the game that needs to be addressed.
The former England international believes Premier League stars should be prohibited from retiring from international football while they are fit to play for their clubs and suggests the money involved in football has had a damning effect on players’ desire to play for their country.
Manchester United defender Wes Brown and Blackburn’s Paul Robinson both shunned Fabio Capello’s call-up for tomorrow night’s friendly with Hungry, and in doing so announced their retirements from international football; something that has seemingly infuriated the outspoken Wright.
Speaking about England’s disappointing performance at the World Cup finals, Wright told Absolute Radio: “It was so disappointing and it was such an anti-climax to wait so long for the World Cup, for the boys to actually perform so badly, they were poor in every way, no one came out with anything about them, no dignity, and the manager I thought was very poor in the way he didn’t really change anything.
“He was picking players who’d retired, you know what I mean.
“Paul Scholes didn’t want to come, Jamie Carragher. In fairness to him he did come out and want to do well, and now we’ve got another couple of players who want to retire.
“I cannot understand how players retire. There should be something that says you cannot retire as long as you are fit enough to play.
Wright continued: “You know, you look at soldiers, it’s an extreme example, but you look at soldiers, soldiers who are looking to the England boys to give them a lift, to give them a boost. Do you think they’d like to retire at some stage, walking up and down?
“Of course they would, and you’ve got players who are fit, like, look at Wes Brown, talking about somebody who plays on the right for Man United.
“He retires from England because, what, that’s what they do at England?
“Why has he retired? Paul Robinson’s what, 30, coming on 31? Goalkeepers play until they’re 40, and he’s retired.
“You’ve got Joe Hart, who’s new, you’ve got Ben Foster who’s not experienced, he’s (Robinson) an experienced goalkeeper, all he’s got to do is start with some form, he might get his number one place back."
Wright later suggested the reason behind players’ early retirements was due to the vast sums of money in the game.
“Well what happens, is that they’re all lazy with the money, they think ‘Oh I don’t really need it’, that’s what happens.” Wright concluded.
The former England international believes Premier League stars should be prohibited from retiring from international football while they are fit to play for their clubs and suggests the money involved in football has had a damning effect on players’ desire to play for their country.
Manchester United defender Wes Brown and Blackburn’s Paul Robinson both shunned Fabio Capello’s call-up for tomorrow night’s friendly with Hungry, and in doing so announced their retirements from international football; something that has seemingly infuriated the outspoken Wright.
Speaking about England’s disappointing performance at the World Cup finals, Wright told Absolute Radio: “It was so disappointing and it was such an anti-climax to wait so long for the World Cup, for the boys to actually perform so badly, they were poor in every way, no one came out with anything about them, no dignity, and the manager I thought was very poor in the way he didn’t really change anything.
“He was picking players who’d retired, you know what I mean.
“Paul Scholes didn’t want to come, Jamie Carragher. In fairness to him he did come out and want to do well, and now we’ve got another couple of players who want to retire.
“I cannot understand how players retire. There should be something that says you cannot retire as long as you are fit enough to play.
Wright continued: “You know, you look at soldiers, it’s an extreme example, but you look at soldiers, soldiers who are looking to the England boys to give them a lift, to give them a boost. Do you think they’d like to retire at some stage, walking up and down?
“Of course they would, and you’ve got players who are fit, like, look at Wes Brown, talking about somebody who plays on the right for Man United.
“He retires from England because, what, that’s what they do at England?
“Why has he retired? Paul Robinson’s what, 30, coming on 31? Goalkeepers play until they’re 40, and he’s retired.
“You’ve got Joe Hart, who’s new, you’ve got Ben Foster who’s not experienced, he’s (Robinson) an experienced goalkeeper, all he’s got to do is start with some form, he might get his number one place back."
Wright later suggested the reason behind players’ early retirements was due to the vast sums of money in the game.
“Well what happens, is that they’re all lazy with the money, they think ‘Oh I don’t really need it’, that’s what happens.” Wright concluded.
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