Team GB: Who would you pick?

With the 2012 olympics drawing ever closer we thought It would be great to explain a few of the rules before picking the squad we would take to the games.  

So first some of the rules – explained to you via ticket company Get Me In

Separate nations

The Welsh, Scottish and Irish football associations are worried that Team GB will affect how they are seen by FIFA. With the English FA taking in the lead in the formation of Team GB’s football squad, the other home nations are worried this will affect their independence in FIFA organised tournaments, such as the World Cup and next year’s Euros. In a joint statement, released in June, they explained this that stance was “principally to protect the identity of each national association”.

The FA claims that an ‘historic agreement’ was made to allow players from each team to play.  However the joint statement said that no such agreement had taken place.

Obviously this has had an implication for players. Last week on Twitter, Wales captain Aaron Ramsay posted: “Relax everyone, there is no way I would play if it was going to affect Wales’s identity as an individual nation!” in an attempt to reassure fans

Age limit

As the 2012 Euros are also next year FIFA planned to exclude all players over the age of 21 from competing. This way they hoped to avoid clashes between the two major tournaments.

The International Olympic Committee was against this restriction and set the upper age limit at 23. The committee has allowed each team to field up to three ‘over age’ players. This means that while many of Britain’s footballing legends will be excluded, some stars, such as David Beckham, might be able to represent Great Britain next summer.

 The Squad

So who would you pick, taking into consideration that 23 England players might perhaps miss out due to the Euro 2012 championship?…The over 23′s are underlined.

GK: Craig Gordon (Scotland and Sunderland), Jack Butland (England and Birmingham)

D: Danny Wilson (Scotland and Liverpool), Steven Caulker (England and Swansea), Martin Kelly (England and Liverpool), Michael Dawson/ Ledly King (England and Tottenham TEAM CAPTAIN), Joe Mattock (England and West Brom) , Adam Matthews (Wales and Celtic), Chris Smalling (England and Manchester United)

M: James Forrest (Scotland and Celtic), Joe Cole (England and Lille) , Barry Bannan (Scotland and Aston Villa) Marc Albrighton (England and Aston Villa), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (England and Arsenal), Jack Rodwell (England and Everton) , Jordan Henderson (England and Liverpool) Gareth Bale (Wales and Tottenham) Aaron Ramsey (Wales and Arsenal) Josh McEachran (England and Chelsea)

S: Connor Wickham (England and Sunderland), Daniel Sturridge (England and Chelsea), Danny Welbeck (England and Manchester United), Andy Carroll (England and Liverpool)

Manager: Stuart Pearce, Assistant: David Beckham

Starting 11: 

To see how a British team should be, visit www.getmein.com for cricket, rugby tickets and other sports tickets.

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