2013-04-16 10:05:26 +02:00

430 lines
16 KiB
Plaintext
Executable File

sport
football
teams
england
8510172
-----
# West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green is on the verge of quitting England
## Robert Green is on the verge of quitting international football. The 31
-year-old goalkeeper is understood to have become disillusioned at the lack of
opportunities he has had for England since last summer's World Cup finals.
![Robert Green - Robert Green is on the verge of quitting England][1]
Lack of opportunites: Robert Green (right) with Joe Hart and Ben Foster Photo:
ACTION IMAGES
[![Jason Burt][2]][3]
By [Jason Burt][4] 11:00PM BST 12 May 2011
[Follow Jason Burt on Twitter][5]
[Comments][6]
Green's thinking is not linked to Ben Foster's decision, announced on
Wednesday and without consultation with **[England][7]** manager Fabio
Capello, that he would take an "indefinite break" from the national squad.
Indeed Foster's announcement may persuade Green to change his mind and
continue making himself available for selection. If not, Capello will be faced
with a severe shortage of goalkeepers.
Green would become the third goalkeeper to stand down from international duty
during Capello's reign, after Paul Robinson's decision to retire last year
because he thought he should be first choice.
Joe Hart is England's No 1 but Capello would be struggling to find suitable,
experienced goalkeepers for the crucial Euro 2012 qualifier at home to
Switzerland in just three weeks, should Green not change his mind.
It is understood that the West Ham goalkeeper's decision was prompted by his
disappointment that he did not play in last month's friendly against Ghana.
## Related Articles
* [Hart 'could be England's most capped player ever'][8]
13 May 2011
* [Bombshell for Capello as Foster quits England][9]
11 May 2011
* [Capello silent on captaincy][10]
12 May 2011
* [Capello talk isn't cheap for FA][11]
29 Mar 2011
* [Nothing gained from Wilshere playing in U21s][12]
28 Mar 2011
* [Parker hopes he has foothold in England team][13]
27 Mar 2011
Hart played in that game, having also played the full 90 minutes a few days
earlier against Wales.
Foster withdrew from the squad, leading to Green stepping up to second choice,
with Scott Carson also drafted in to complete England's complement of
goalkeepers.
However, Hart was not substituted and Green remained on the bench, just as he
had done in Cardiff.
It is not unusual for experienced goalkeepers to stand down from international
duty -- the Republic of Ireland suffered a similar problem a few years ago
when Dean Kiely grew weary of being Shay Given's understudy -- and the nature
of the position means chances to play are limited.
It is understood that Green held talks with England coaching staff after the
Ghana game and expressed his intention to quit playing for his country, having
earned nine caps in five years.
It is all the more frustrating for Green given how long he waited to get his
chance in the first place. For a while he even joked -- and had it embossed on
his gloves -- that he was "England's No 6" and he did appear to have been
overlooked by previous managers.
Green made the point that the Ghana game was a friendly and an opportunity for
him to receive his first cap since the horrific error he committed against the
United States in last summer's finals in South Africa.
He has not played for his country since that difficult evening although
Capello maintained that Green still had an international future. It is
believed that Green was persuaded to reconsider his decision.
There have not been any talks with him since, partly because the England
management wanted to leave Green -- who they rate highly as a character as
well as a player -- to concentrate on his club football given the relegation
battle he finds himself in at West Ham.
There will be a discussion, it is hoped, before the announcement of the squad
to face Switzerland on May 23 and it would appear likely that, given Foster's
decision, Green will be persuaded to change his mind for now.
It may well be that Green was acting impulsively, given his disappointment at
not playing in the Ghana game, and that he will stay with the squad.
The player faced severe criticism after his mistake against the Americans,
which allowed Clint Dempsey to equalise, and which led to him losing his place
in the team to David James.
Capello had waited until the eve of the World Cup before confirming Green as
his first choice with the manager then, after the tournament, declaring that
Hart would be England's future goalkeeper.
Green has also suffered injury problems this season and pulled out of a squad
for internationals last autumn because he required hip surgery.
Capello's attitude to players who threaten to retire has usually been to allow
them to make their decision and move on.
However, given the kind of personality Green is and, more pressingly, the
dearth of goalkeepers available to him, he will hope the player changes his
mind.
Foster stunned Capello with his announcement, which was made on the
**[Birmingham City][14]** website.
The 28 year-old has to undergo hand surgery recently and has grown
increasingly frustrated at the mounting injury problems he has faced and the
toll they have taken on his body.
Like Green, he has also become disillusioned with what he feels as a lack of
chances to play given Hart's fine form and his age, 24.
Capello has selected David Stockdale for squads in the past, but he is not
first choice at Fulham, while there will be interest in John Ruddy now that
Norwich City are in the Premier League. From the under-21s, Frankie Fielding
and Scott Loach have also trained with the seniors.
But the major concern now, given Foster's decision and if Green does retire,
will be the lack of an experienced understudy to Hart. David James has said he
is still available but he will be 41 this year. Carson would seem the only
alternative.
[X][15] Share & bookmark
Delicious Facebook Google Messenger Reddit Twitter
Digg Fark LinkedIn Google Buzz StumbleUpon Y! Buzz
[What are these?][16]
* Share: [Share][15] [ ][17] [ ][18]
[Tweet][19]
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england/8510172/West-Ham-
goalkeeper-Robert-Green-is-on-the-verge-of-quitting-England.html
Telegraph
## [England][7]
* ### [Sport »][20]
* ### [Football »][21]
* ### [West Ham »][22]
* ### [Football News »][23]
* ### [Jason Burt »][3]
In sport
[![Fabio Capello will not call Rio Ferdinand about captaincy before
announcement of England squad to face Switzerland][24] ][10]
### [Capello silent on captaincy][10]
[![Footballers who have turned down England][25] ][26]
### [Not thinking of England][26]
[![England's World Cup 2018 bid team have now lost the moral high ground
too][27] ][28]
### [England bid team have lost moral high ground, too][28]
[![Cardiff provides the perfect breeding ground for Fabio Capello's quiet
revolution - ashley young][29] ][30]
### [Capello's quiet revolution][30]
[X][15] Share & bookmark
Delicious Facebook Google Messenger Reddit Twitter
Digg Fark LinkedIn Google Buzz StumbleUpon Y! Buzz
[What are these?][16]
Share:
* [ ][15]
* [ ][17]
* [ ][18]
* [Tweet][19]
* FOOTBALL IMAGES
Latest England team images from World Cup 2010.
Advertisement
![][31]
telegraphuk
Please enable JavaScript to view the [comments powered by Disqus.][32] [blog
comments powered by Disqus][33]
Advertisement
[PREMIER LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS »][34]
Advertisement
Classified Advertising
* [Engineering Jobs][35]
* [Cars][36]
* [Games][37]
Loading
[Find your ideal job with Telegraph Jobs][38]
var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8257595'); var guid = "663501"; var headline
= "ENGINEERING MANAGER, KENT"; var description = "Kent £60000 - £65000"; var
link = "http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/job/663501/permanent/kent/engineering-
manager-kent-job-vacancy.aspx?FromRSSFeed=-1007&WT.ac=663501"; var imageUrl =
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/logos/B6/46/B6E34F1D-0404-41A1-A940-BAC94E2BB846_
140_87-v2.jpg"; var adWeight = "3"; puffArray.push({'id':guid,
'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl,
'weight':adWeight}); var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8257595'); var guid =
"669090"; var headline = "Engineering Opportunities with e2v"; var description
= "United Kingdom On Application"; var link =
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/job/669090/permanent/united-kingdom/engineering-
opportunities-with-e2v-job-vacancy.aspx?FromRSSFeed=-1007&WT.ac=669090"; var
imageUrl = "http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/logos/E7/29/E72B0493-713D-4FD9-95DC-
C57D0699BF29_140_87-v2.jpg"; var adWeight = "3"; puffArray.push({'id':guid,
'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl,
'weight':adWeight}); var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8257595'); var guid =
"670674"; var headline = "Graduate Recruitment"; var description =
"Lancashire, Belfast, Isle of Man On Application"; var link =
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/job/670674/permanent/lancashire-belfast-isle-of-
man/graduate-recruitment-job-vacancy.aspx?FromRSSFeed=-1007&WT.ac=670674"; var
imageUrl = "http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/logos/48/EC/483698DD-
7BDF-4023-97B3-12F0E6A45AEC_140_87-v2.jpg"; var adWeight = "3";
puffArray.push({'id':guid, 'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description,
'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl, 'weight':adWeight}); var puffArray =
eval('puffs_' + '8257595'); var guid = "673197"; var headline = "Head of
Tunnels and Structures"; var description = "London On Application"; var link =
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/job/673197/permanent/london/head-of-tunnels-and-
structures-job-vacancy.aspx?FromRSSFeed=-1007&WT.ac=673197"; var imageUrl =
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/logos/DC/C4/DC97BBEE-5BEE-4B8F-808F-
5F406B9EA5C4_140_87-v2.jpg"; var adWeight = "3"; puffArray.push({'id':guid,
'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl,
'weight':adWeight}); var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8257595'); var guid =
"669239"; var headline = "Chief Engineer - Strategic Programmes"; var
description = "Chelsmford On Application"; var link =
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/job/669239/permanent/chelsmford/chief-engineer-
strategic-programmes-job-vacancy.aspx?FromRSSFeed=-1007&WT.ac=669239"; var
imageUrl = "http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/logos/E7/29/E72B0493-713D-4FD9-95DC-
C57D0699BF29_140_87-v2.jpg"; var adWeight = "3"; puffArray.push({'id':guid,
'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl,
'weight':adWeight}); var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8257595'); var guid =
"668730"; var headline = "Instrumentation and Control Engineer"; var
description = "Berkshire On Application"; var link =
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/job/668730/permanent/berkshire/instrumentation-
and-control-engineer-job-vacancy.aspx?FromRSSFeed=-1007&WT.ac=668730"; var
imageUrl = "http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/logos/67/C1/67297E9F-24CA-4855-ABCA-
E1BA0C66D3C1_140_87-v2.jpg"; var adWeight = "3"; puffArray.push({'id':guid,
'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl,
'weight':adWeight}); var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8257595'); var guid =
"669237"; var headline = "Power Electronics System Design & Test Engineer";
var description = "Chelmsford On Application"; var link =
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/job/669237/permanent/chelmsford/power-
electronics-system-design-test-engineer-job-
vacancy.aspx?FromRSSFeed=-1007&WT.ac=669237"; var imageUrl =
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/logos/E7/29/E72B0493-713D-4FD9-95DC-
C57D0699BF29_140_87-v2.jpg"; var adWeight = "3"; puffArray.push({'id':guid,
'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl,
'weight':adWeight}); var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8257595'); var guid =
"670248"; var headline = "Engineering Management Positions"; var description =
"United Arab Emirates On Application"; var link =
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/job/670248/permanent/united-arab-emirates
/engineering-management-positions-job-
vacancy.aspx?FromRSSFeed=-1007&WT.ac=670248"; var imageUrl =
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/_resx/images/TGJobs-logo_140x87-v2.gif"; var
adWeight = "3"; puffArray.push({'id':guid, 'headline':headline,
'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl, 'weight':adWeight});
var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8257595'); var guid = "669475"; var headline
= "FEA Engineer"; var description = "Stonehouse On Application"; var link =
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/job/669475/permanent/stonehouse/fea-engineer-job-
vacancy.aspx?FromRSSFeed=-1007&WT.ac=669475"; var imageUrl =
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/logos/F4/1C/F4E5E3E5-E431-4211-8E3F-
FE8AA4CCE91C_140_87-v2.jpg"; var adWeight = "3"; puffArray.push({'id':guid,
'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl,
'weight':adWeight});
[1]: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01894/robert-
green_1894386c.jpg
[2]: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01757/Burt_60_1757421j.jpg
[3]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/jasonburt/
[4]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/jasonburt/ (Jason Burt)
[5]: http://twitter.com/jasonburt_tele
[6]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england/8510172/West-
Ham-goalkeeper-Robert-Green-is-on-the-verge-of-quitting-
England.html#disqus_thread
[7]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england/
[8]: /sport/football/teams/england/8511486/Manchester-City-keeper-Joe-Hart-
could-be-Englands-most-capped-player-ever-says-David-James.html
[9]: /sport/football/teams/birmingham-city/8506991/Birmingham-City-
goalkeeper-Ben-Foster-retires-from-England-duty.html
[10]: /sport/football/teams/england/8510049/Fabio-Capello-will-not-call-
Rio-Ferdinand-about-captaincy-before-England-squad-announcement.html
[11]: /sport/football/teams/england/8412421/Henry-Winter-Fabio-Capellos-100
-words-leaves-him-short-on-conversation-and-England-short-of-success.html
[12]: /sport/football/teams/england/8409685/Alan-Hansen-nothing-to-be-
gained-from-sending-Jack-Wilshere-to-play-for-England-under-21s-this-
summer.html
[13]: /sport/football/teams/england/8409655/Wales-v-England-Man-of-the-
match-Scott-Parker-at-last-hopes-to-have-gained-a-foothold-in-Fabio-Capellos-
team.html
[14]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/birmingham-city/
[15]: #
[16]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/4590190/Share-this-
article-What-are-these.html
[17]: mailto:?subject=A Telegraph reader thought you would be interested in
this article&body=Depending on your email program, you may be able to click on
the link in the email. Alternatively, you may have to open a web browser, such
as Firefox or Internet Explorer, and copy the link over into the address bar.
%0A%0Ahttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england/8510172/West-
Ham-goalkeeper-Robert-Green-is-on-the-verge-of-quitting-England.html %0A%0AFor
the best content online, visit www.telegraph.co.uk
[18]: javascript:print()
[19]: http://twitter.com/share?via=Telegraph
[20]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/
[21]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/
[22]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/west-ham/
[23]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/news/
[24]: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01894/fabio-
capello_1894274g.jpg
[25]:
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01892/chris_sutton_1892895g.jpg
[26]: /sport/football/picturegalleries/8507113/Footballers-who-have-turned-
down-England-in-pictures.html
[27]:
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01891/blatter_1891424g.jpg
[28]: /sport/football/teams/england/8503745/Englands-World-Cup-2018-bid-
team-have-now-lost-the-moral-high-ground-too.html
[29]: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01858/young_1858170g.jpg
[30]: /sport/football/teams/england/8409713/Cardiff-provides-perfect-
breeding-ground-for-Fabio-Capellos-quiet-revolution-after-Englands-defeat-of-
Wales.html
[31]: http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/imp.gif?client=ca-
telegraph_uk_420x200&event=noscript
[32]: http://disqus.com/?ref_noscript=telegraphuk
[33]: http://disqus.com
[34]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier-
league/8229445/Barclays-Premier-League-video-highlights.html
[35]: #configurableTab_8257595
[36]: #configurableTab_8120678
[37]: #configurableTab_8255335
[38]: http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/?utm_source=TMG&utm_medium=CS&utm_campaig
n=jobslink