From lack of quality to lack of commitment, the reasons listed for England’s continued failure at major tournaments are many and varied. However, in a startling revelation by Daily Telegraph journalist Jim White, one member of the Three Lions’ squad at Euro 2016 was apparently anything but pleased to be involved in the competition.
Speaking on BBC radio on Thursday evening, White revealed that one player, on arriving in France ahead of the European Championships, phoned his agent and said ‘Can you get me out of this’…
That’s quite a claim from White as one would expect that lining out for your country is still a high-point of a player’s career. Still, with the focus now very much on club football, from the cash-rich Premier League and Champions League, maybe international football is indeed dying a slow, painful death.
As for the identity of the player referenced by White? Who knows! Although maybe there was more than one member of Roy Hodgson’s doomed squad less than eager to play in France.