Stuart Pearce & Hope Powell To Manage Team Great Britian At 2012 Olympics
Both managers will be selecting their players from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, despite every country barring England opposing selection of their players for the Games.
Stuart Peace has been given the vote of confidence by the FA to lead the British men's football team at the 2012 Olympics next summer. This is the first time Great Britain has fieled a team in the tournament in the 52 years since the Rome Games of 1960. Meanwhile Hope Powell will unsurprisingly lead the Great Britain's woman's football team who will be making their debut at the Olympic Games. Both managers will be selecting their players from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, despite every country barring England opposing selection of their players for the Games claiming that it would harm their status as Independent nations for other tournaments such as the World Cup and Euro Championships. The reality of course is that they are probably also trying to avoid a probable embarrassment when 8 or more of the outfield 11 are English fielded players! The vote of confidence for Pearce to lead the Team GB squad next year likely boosts his chances (especially if he does well) of taking over from Fabio Capello as the full time England boss when he steps down after next year's Euro 2012 tournament. Pearce is of course the wisest choice for the Olympics tournament having been the U23 manager since 2007 and as the 18-strong Euro 2012 squads MUST contain 15 players who were born on, or after, 1st January 1989 whilst three other players can be older. So it'll all be about working with the kids and the majority of the players fielded will have played for Pearce over the years. One player looking for the senior call-up is former England Captain David Beckham, 36, who of course wears patriotism on his sleeve and probably still hasn't fully given up hope of travelling to the Euro 2012 championships. Pearce says he will pick players with 'form' and 'fitness' and that; "I was fortunate to be part of Euro 96, so I know how special it can be to play for your country on home soil at a major tournament I'm sure this group of players will relish being part of not only a huge tournament in this country, but a unique one competing together and representing the UK."