Stuart Pearce has been "blown away" by the desire of Wales'

Team GB boss Stuart Pearce "blown away" by desire of Welsh Olympians
By Jon DoelJul 2 2012

Team GB boss Stuart Pearce has been "blown away" by the desire of Wales' football stars to be part of the British Olympic side.

Pearce insisted he expects the Welsh public to get behind Britain's first ever Olympic football team later this month, with five Welsh players named in the final 18-man squad.

Ryan Giggs or Craig Bellamy could yet captain the team, while Joe Allen, Aaron Ramsey and Neil Taylor are all expected to form an important part of the squad.

Pearce defended his decision not to name any Scottish or Northern Irish players in a squad made up of 13 Englishmen and five Welshmen, adding: “I’ve got a list of names written down now, who I think ability-wise are good enough to do a job. I didn’t pick on personality, I didn’t pick on ticket sales and I certainly wasn’t picking on nationality.


“To be honest I cannot tell you how many players there are from England and Wales. There 18 players are all Olympians now and that’s the only way I view them.”

Pearce also brushed aside suggestions the Welsh supporters would not get behind the team.

“Whenever I’ve supported a GB member as an individual, I’ve never looked at their individual nationality, I see them as British participants and I hope that’s the case throughout our isles this summer,” he added.

“I’ve been blown away by the mentality of the Welsh players in the squad and their desire to be part of it.”

No captain has yet been appointed for the squad, with Pearce set to appoint one once the players meet for training.

Pearce also confirmed there was no political pressure on him to select David Beckham for his Team GB Olympic squad – and would not have accepted the job if there had been.

As expected, the omission of Beckham – a key figure in the London 2012 bid process and beyond – somewhat overshadowed the naming of the 18 players who will line up at the Games.

Until last week it was widely expected that Beckham’s star quality and devotion to the Olympic cause would be enough to earn him one of the three over-age spots in Pearce’s squad.

But the England Under-21 boss said his selections – Craig Bellamy, Ryan Giggs and Micah Richards – were made solely by him and exclusively for footballing reasons.

“From the offset, when I sat down with the (Football Association) chairman David Bernstein, some time before Christmas, he offered me the opportunity to pick the squad,” he said.

“If at that stage he had said to me that certain individuals would have to be included I certainly wouldn’t do that job. I don’t know any manager worth their salt who would have.

“Right through this process I have had carte blanche to pick whatever players I regard as best.

“I do enough hours watching matches and I think I’ve done due diligence on all the players here.

“And in regard to ticket sales and merchandise: I’m a football man and I pick solely on football ability. I have to back my opinion and that’s what I have done.”



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Good luck to the lads selected, it is a unique honour and opportunity.

....as long as it is only for this Olympics.

Yeah, I share the same sentiment.

Will they play God save the queen before the game, that may be a bit hard to stomach.

Yeah, I share the same sentiment.

Will they play God save the queen before the game, that may be a bit hard to stomach.

Only if we win gold, so don't worry

Yeah, I share the same sentiment.

Will they play God save the queen before the game, that may be a bit hard to stomach.

'God save the Queen' is the British National anthem so yes they will...

The English don't have a set anthem, they just sing what they please...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_anthem_of_England

Don't care how GB do but hope the welsh lads do well.

Not bothered if they win or lose. But we have to think about the World Cup qualifiers an how this may affect our team.

Shocking there's no Scottish players.

Shocking there's no Scottish players.

Complete Disgrace... Is he honestly trying to tell us he could not pick at least one player from Scotland and one from Northern Ireland.... I know how I'd feel if it was a case of no Welshman in the squad.... and the irony is that they will have no idea why Scots and Irishmen will not get behind the team.... Typical English arrogance....

Shocking there's no Scottish players.

Complete Disgrace... Is he honestly trying to tell us he could not pick at least one player from Scotland and one from Northern Ireland.... I know how I'd feel if it was a case of no Welshman in the squad.... and the irony is that they will have no idea why Scots and Irishmen will not get behind the team.... Typical English arrogance....

If your not good enough why should a Welsh or Englishman miss out?

Lets be honest Northern Ireland are SHIT, and the Jocks are not much better.

Shocking there's no Scottish players.

Complete Disgrace... Is he honestly trying to tell us he could not pick at least one player from Scotland and one from Northern Ireland.... I know how I'd feel if it was a case of no Welshman in the squad.... and the irony is that they will have no idea why Scots and Irishmen will not get behind the team.... Typical English arrogance....

If your not good enough why should a Welsh or Englishman miss out?

Lets be honest Northern Ireland are SHIT, and the Jocks are not much better.

but there are scotish footballers that could make that team.....snodgrass for one.

Shocking there's no Scottish players.

Complete Disgrace... Is he honestly trying to tell us he could not pick at least one player from Scotland and one from Northern Ireland.... I know how I'd feel if it was a case of no Welshman in the squad.... and the irony is that they will have no idea why Scots and Irishmen will not get behind the team.... Typical English arrogance....

If your not good enough why should a Welsh or Englishman miss out?

Lets be honest Northern Ireland are SHIT, and the Jocks are not much better.

but there are scotish footballers that could make that team.....snodgrass for one.

Good footballer but hes not better than the likes of Scott Sinclair, Bellamy or Giggs, Brick.

Shocking there's no Scottish players.

Complete Disgrace... Is he honestly trying to tell us he could not pick at least one player from Scotland and one from Northern Ireland.... I know how I'd feel if it was a case of no Welshman in the squad.... and the irony is that they will have no idea why Scots and Irishmen will not get behind the team.... Typical English arrogance....

Can you think of any Scottish or Northern Irish players above the age of 23 who are good enough to get in ahead of Micah Richards, Giggs and Bellamy? I can't!

I think there's a case for Jordan Rhodes ahead of Marvin Sordell?

Johnny Evans would be in if it wasn't for injury. All four countries should be represented imo.

I think there's a case for Jordan Rhodes ahead of Marvin Sordell?

Johnny Evans would be in if it wasn't for injury. All four countries should be represented imo.

Except for the fact that Rhodes has only done it in league 1 and doesnt start for Scotland. To be honest I am suprised sordell has gone

Pearce has picked what he feels is the strongest possible squad for team GB. Some of you are offended no Scottish and Northern Irish players aren't selected, but it's no different to for example, Spain picking Barcelona and Real Madrid under 23 players with the rest of the players from around the country missing out. I don't think the Spain manager would be picking players from different areas of Spain, he would be picking the best players available to play for Spain, just like Pearce has picked what he feels are the best available players for GB.

Yeah, I share the same sentiment.

Will they play God save the queen before the game, that may be a bit hard to stomach.

'God save the Queen' is the British National anthem so yes they will...

The English don't have a set anthem, they just sing what they please...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_anthem_of_England

Funny you say that, I've never heard any one call the queen anything other than the queen of england. Never the queen of england, scotland and wales or the queen of britain. Strange? But then I suppose its 'for britain think england isn't it?' Well that's how the english see it. Don't believe anything else