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Capello warns England players off withdrawals this summer

16/04/2008

England manager Fabio Capello has said he will not tolerate players withdrawing unnecessarily from this summer's friendly internationals.

The Italian tactician, speaking during a trip to Lesotho to promote the Football Association's involvement in developing the game at grassroots level in Africa, said he will only select players who "love the shirt".

England face the USA and Trinidad and Tobago in a friendly double-header on May 28th and June 1st, with the first match coming just one week after the Champions League final.

But Capello has said any players choosing not to join up with the international squad may jeopardise their England careers.

"If someone doesn't want to come and play for England, it means they don't love the shirt enough and obviously they prefer to go on holiday," Capello said.

"By the time of the two games, some of the players will have been on holiday for a week already.

"Do I want to see commitment to England? If a player doesn't love playing for England, then perhaps he should stay at home.

"Players must love the England shirt and love wearing the England shirt. That is all there is to it."

Blackburn Rovers winger David Bentley suffered the wrath of England fans across the country after pulling out of the under-21 squad ahead of last summer's European Championships, citing fatigue.

And he paid the price when he was omitted from then-manager Steve McClaren's next full squad, despite being tipped to break into the senior setup.

He was recalled by McClaren for the following game, however.