Allardyce calls for return of Olympic football team

[G B Young]

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Overall your post is a good one IMO, but then you spoil it with "England" might have been more successful with Best, Law, Giggs, Bale" - this can only apply to a Team GB, surely? None of the players would/could have played for any team called "England" ... GB is not England and England is not GB

Sorry, I haven't really made myself clear there. I didn't mean that the team would be called England, I meant that down the years England fans especially have mooted how much stronger a side could have been put together were players from other nations involved along with the best English players. The team itself would obviously have to be a Team GB or Team UK. England would almost certainly have the majority of the players in the squad, simply down to the fact they have biggest pool to choose from, but just as most British sports fans get behind competitors representing GB, be that at the Olympics, the Open golf, Wimbledon, Davis Cup etc, I think such a team might be easier to back than many think.

[hibee_nation]

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Sorry, I haven't really made myself clear there. I didn't mean that the team would be called England, I meant that down the years England fans especially have mooted how much stronger a side could have been put together were players from other nations involved along with the best English players. The team itself would obviously have to be a Team GB or Team UK. England would almost certainly have the majority of the players in the squad, simply down to the fact they have biggest pool to choose from, but just as most British sports fans get behind competitors representing GB, be that at the Olympics, the Open golf, Wimbledon, Davis Cup etc, I think such a team might be easier to back than many think.

Be a good chance for the huns to wave their UJ flags and sing rule britania i suppose.

[PeeJay]

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Sorry, I haven't really made myself clear there. I didn't mean that the team would be called England, I meant that down the years England fans especially have mooted how much stronger a side could have been put together were players from other nations involved along with the best English players. The team itself would obviously have to be a Team GB or Team UK. England would almost certainly have the majority of the players in the squad, simply down to the fact they have biggest pool to choose from, but just as most British sports fans get behind competitors representing GB, be that at the Olympics, the Open golf, Wimbledon, Davis Cup etc, I think such a team might be easier to back than many think.

Yeah, guessed that, you're spot on there I think - seems strange to support a Team GB and then to say, not the football team ...

[hhibs]

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Hibs have proved for far much longer that we are even more miles off the pace...

Of course, the other constituent parts of the UK have been totally ON the pace and we want to jump on their coattails. ..

Let's have a European national team and guarantee winning at least the Euros every singe time..

Or alternatively you are trolling or a British Nationalist pushing your agenda - or a troll.

Indeed !

[G B Young]

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As long as the Home Nations current status is guaranteed, I wouldn't have a problem. Rugby seemed to manage it without any drama.

Rugby, or at least the sevens version, appears to be more open minded about a regular nationwide side:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/37191726

[Kavinho]

Surely time to give this a rest.....?

[Scouse Hibee]

Ironically Scotland has a team including GB players who qualify through some very tenuous links like lots of other nations. Time to cut back on the criteria that allows players to pick one nation because they have no chance of being selected for another. I blame Jack Charlton.

[Haymaker]

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As long as the Home Nations current status is guaranteed, I wouldn't have a problem. Rugby seemed to manage it without any drama.

A GB team for the Olympic football would have to qualify for it meaning we would have to have a team GB in competition. This would mean the separate home nations would have to become one.

Not worth it for a competition every 4 years.

And personally, I wouldn't support it.

[Haymaker]

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Ironically Scotland has a team including GB players who qualify through some very tenuous links like lots of other nations. Time to cut back on the criteria that allows players to pick one nation because they have no chance of being selected for another. I blame Jack Charlton.

This. I can understand for some people but sometimes it takes the piss. Players getting in via their gran who have never even seen Scotland is pushing it a bit.