I've heard that the english players might boycott the game aginst turkey because of the rio ferdinand's affair... Is that true?
Well, there were articles yesterday on Soccernet saying that the whole strike talk was just a rumor, but then this morning, there's one on how the FA will be talking with the players to make them stand down from a decision, apparently unanimous, to not play the match if Rio Ferdinand is not allowed to play. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=279815&cc=5901 It looks like Man Utd. is none too pleased about this either, and that the FA might have screwed-up, big time.
Much against what the critics speculate, I think that this Strike Crisis should just make the England team stronger. When a team bonds together likes this and players start looking out after each other in earnest, they will generally get much better results on the field. Most NTs don't jel together very well as it's usually a collection of gifted primadonas. But through this "mutiny" and sticking-together this group will be a solid fighting force. Note that I am Turkish and that I am not particularly pleased about this development.
Uh-oh, it's not looking good. I don't think there'll be a boycott, and as a fan I would be angry with the players if they did and got us disqualified from Euro 2004. I can understand them wanting to express solidarity with Rio (even though he did arguably screw up), but I think they should be the bigger men here and get this match out of the way first, then we'll talk boycotts and retribution afterwards. Obviously that diminishes their power a bit and lets the FA off the hook somewhat for their mismanagement of the situation, but I think there are ways for them to sort the FA out and put the blazers back in their places which don't involve ruining a whole tournament for us.
Rio I don't what all the fuss is about....Rio knew the rules, he broke them (whether innocent or not) and these are the consequences. If Rio played for Charlton, you wouldn't have all the controversy (of course, he probably wouldn't get selected from a smaller club anyway). And to be sure, I am not so sure that Rio is such an automatic selection either.
http://www.ananova.com/sport/soccer/story/sm_827114.html?menu=sport.football Good on Rio for telephoning and telling them to play, that was the best way to end this. They should still give Palios a bollocking for being a prat in making this situation into a confrontation, but at least the prima donnas won't get us kicked out for no-showing.