England career a waste - Neville

[BAGGIO 15]

National service: Gary Neville has suggested playing for England was more trouble than it was worth. Source: AFP


FORMER Manchester United defender Gary Neville has described his England career as a "waste of time".

He also claimed his country have no chance of winning a major trophy for the next decade.

Neville played in three European Championships and two World Cups for England, but he was never as comfortable playing for his country as he was for United.

The right-back, who retired from soccer last season, played in the England team that reached the Euro 96 semi-finals and he claims the team are unlikely to improve on that performance in the near future because the culture of English soccer breeds technically inferior players.

Writing in his autobiography 'Red', serialised in the Mail on Sunday, he said: "We have our football culture in this country based on the traditional power player and I don't see us competing seriously for a major tournament for at least 10 years. I'm afraid we still have a lot of catching up to do."



Neville believes the abuse England's players received from fans and pundits when they went out of tournaments often made it an unenjoyable experience and left many fearing failure.

"There have been times when I reflected on my international career and just thought: 'Well that was a massive waste of time'," Neville said.

"Sorry for sounding sour, but my best mate, David Beckham, got butchered after the World Cup in 1998, then my brother, Phil, after Euro 2000.

"The whole lot of us got it in the neck at other times. Sometimes we deserved it, but playing for England was one long roller-coaster: some ups and downs, but also quite a few moments when you're not really sure if you're enjoying the ride.

"It should be fantastic, the best moments of your life. But there is no doubt that too many players spend too much time fearing the consequence of failure when they pull on an England shirt."

Neville also admits success with United meant more to him then doing well for England.

"I regard myself as patriotic but, truth be told, playing for England was a bonus," he said.

"Winning for my club was always the most important thing and given a straight choice of a European Cup with United or a European Championship with England, it's United every time."

[PhilDunphy]

england career a waste......yeah, seems about right

[Hawkseys Double]

england career a waste......yeah, seems about right

Ah the convicts. So let me guess, born in Australia, so you think there's any hard benefit in playing for Aus?

[PhilDunphy]

england career a waste......yeah, seems about right

Ah the convicts. So let me guess, born in Australia, so you think there's any hard benefit in playing for Aus?

simply being a socceroo almost guarantees you marquee status in a-league.......better $$$$, and gives opportunities for otherwise unknown players to become known in the eyes of overseas clubs.

it's almost a stepping stone for some players to enhance their club careers

[Hawkseys Double]

england career a waste......yeah, seems about right

Ah the convicts. So let me guess, born in Australia, so you think there's any hard benefit in playing for Aus?

simply being a socceroo almost guarantees you marquee status in a-league.......better $$$$, and gives opportunities for otherwise unknown players to become known in the eyes of overseas clubs.

it's almost a stepping stone for some players to enhance their club careers

:?

Marquee in the A-League means FUCK all. Playing for England gives you the chance to play alongside some of the great players. Hand off it, you would beg to play for an international country. Neville hated it because he was hated, and rightly so! He was a twat.

[Litmanen]

england career a waste......yeah, seems about right

Ah the convicts. So let me guess, born in Australia, so you think there's any hard benefit in playing for Aus?

Hang on a minute. You invented the game, and it's your number one sport.
We're lucky if we get more than 30 seconds on the news, and an article in the paper.

For something you lot worship, Neville stating that should effect you way more than any Australian.

At least we know we're rubbish at the game!

[Hawkseys Double]

england career a waste......yeah, seems about right

Ah the convicts. So let me guess, born in Australia, so you think there's any hard benefit in playing for Aus?

Hang on a minute. You invented the game, and it's your number one sport.
We're lucky if we get more than 30 seconds on the news, and an article in the paper.

For something you lot worship, Neville stating that should effect you way more than any Australian.

At least we know we're rubbish at the game!

I never said we we're not great at the game currently.

[Le King]

classic G Nev

[Del Boca Vista]

I don't empathize with Mancs but how can you disagree? This is what we hear out of everyone involved in the English set up. Putting your heart and soul into the England team lately is definitely a waste of time especially if you valued it over club.

[Derek]

Dont believe everything you read. As Yid said, Neville was not the most loved player and he is just trying to get his own back. Probably the biggest w@nker (attitude wise) to play the game. So arrogant but has some great arguments on twitter, particularly with Liverpool fans.

[bapa]

finally, a true legend of the game and ManU telling it how it is!
Neville was hated by Poooo, spurs, asssnal, manshittty and chelski because he has achieved more than any current player in those teams!!


oh I love the following
"He also claimed his country have no chance of winning a major trophy for the next decade."


how true he is!

[Judge Judy]

wow, actually agree with him

International football is rubbish, club football please

[bapa]

wow, actually agree with him

International football is rubbish, club football please

is that cos Aus havent won anything in the senior comp, for how many yrs????

[Judge Judy]

wow, actually agree with him

International football is rubbish, club football please

is that cos Aus havent won anything in the senior comp, for how many yrs????

no

[Old Master]

Sad to say but he's right on every count.

English football has been run by amateurs who have no understanding of the game for far too long.

The FA's hierarchy, of titled/privileged aristocrats are stuck in a time-warp of when England ruled the waves and the football field - before the rest of the world took the development of the game away from them and left the floundering in their wake.

Only a major overhaul of the entire system - from top to bottom and back - will ever change the game and bring the technical side of the game to the fore.


Bring it on!

[God is an Englishman]

This is precisely what is wrong with the England team at the moment, too many prima donnas who don't give a fuck about their country and playing for the 3 lions.

BUT what do you expect from this cunt, he's the one who wanted to go on strike because his mate didn't bother turning up for a drugs test.

I hope his next shit is a hedgehog.

[Der_Tiser]

This is precisely what is wrong with the England team at the moment, too many prima donnas who don't give a shiraz about their country and playing for the 3 lions.

BUT what do you expect from this champagne, he's the one who wanted to go on strike because his mate didn't bother turning up for a drugs test.

I hope his next cabernet is a hedgehog.

that hedgehog would still be more attractive than his wife



thought someone had had a go on it on rubberfaces.com, then I realised the truth...

[albagubraith]

It would be a waste of time to someone who played in so many games and won nothing at all.

England have to be the team that fails to reach their potential on a constant basis. Still living off of 1966

[God is an Englishman]

It would be a waste of time to someone who played in so many games and won nothing at all.

England have to be the team that fails to reach their potential on a constant basis. Still living off of 1966

and with players with attitude, is it any wonder.

Look at the players that walked away from England or have berated it since they left about not enjoying it etc.. shearer, carragher, neville...

ALL NORTHERNERS!!