da betano casino： With the ongoing question surrounding Wayne Rooney and whether he is deserving of a starting position in the England squad, it’s time to consider an English XI consisting of players who never got the chances they deserved with the national team.
da bet7k： Matt Le Tissier is arguably the most famous name to regularly be left out by England managers. But he was by no means the only one. Indeed, big-club bias, favouritism and political reasons have resulted in countless talented, English footballers never reaching more than the peripheries of the Three Lions squad.
The Southampton icon turned 48 years old earlier this week – which makes us at Football FanCast feel pretty old as well. So in honour of the former midfielder’s birthday, and us all feeling old together, we’ve created this select XI entirely out of players who were overlooked by the Three Lions.
Here’s eleven players who make up our overlooked England team.
Nigel Martyn
Most famous for his time at Crystal Palace, Leeds United and Everton, Nigel Martyn was stuck playing second fiddle to David Seaman in the England national team.
Martyn managed to play 23 times for England but he was unable to maintain a consistent run in the team due to Seaman’s consistent form.
In another generation, Martyn would have been England’s number one for decades, but it just wasn’t to be.
Lee Dixon
One of the four members of the infamous Arsenal defensive unit under George Graham, Lee Dixon was another victim of someone else being better than him.
In nine years, Dixon played just 22 games for England, scoring just the one goal, but Gary Neville was often considered to be the more favourable option for England managers during that era.
He’s not only a better pundit Lee, but he was a better defender also. His relationship with David Beckham on the right- hand side for both England and Manchester United proved a decisive factor when it came to choosing a right-back.
Steve Bruce
The greatest England captain the country never had? Steve Bruce was a godsend to Manchester United when he was signed in 1987. Bruce formed a formidable partnership with Gary Pallister during his time at United and became the club captain in 1994.
Steve Bruce never claimed an England cap despite his success in Manchester.
Billy Bonds
When you mention legends at West Ham, Billy Bonds has a comfortable seat alongside Bobby Moore. Bonds played 660 times for the Hammers during the 1970s and 1980s and failed to earn a single cap for England during that period.
Bonds should have been given the opportunity during a period of turmoil for the national team.
Alan Wright
Arguably most remembered for an eight-year spell at Aston Villa, where he won both his under-21 caps. Wright won the Premier League with Blackburn Rovers in 1995 before moving to Villa and making over 300 appearances for the club.
He was called up to the England squad in the build-up to Euro 96, but sadly was never handed a cap. He moved on to play for Sheffield United but Wright was certainly good enough to play for England at least once.
Matt Le Tissier
His name doesn’t sound English and he didn’t play like he was English either, but Matt Le Tissier should have earned more than his paltry eight caps.
Le Tissier is undeniably Southampton’s greatest ever player but his poor work-rate and lack of notable pace or stamina was never favoured by England managers.
Matt is a king on the south coast but he was a million miles off making his mark with the national team.
Tim Sherwood
Blackburn Rovers’ title-winning captain never really made much of an impact on the English national team despite making more than 300 Premier League appearances for the Ewood Park outfit, Tottenham and Portsmouth.
England called Sherwood up three times during 1999 but he struggled to make an impression. Sherwood was a midfield battle-axe and injuries prevented him featuring more regularly.
Kevin Nolan
Kevin Nolan was known for being unable to make his mark in England’s “Golden Generation,” with Steven Gerrard, Michael Carrick and Frank Lampard all deemed better candidates than Nolan.
Nolan considered representing the Republic of Ireland as he became resigned to not being able play for England but he opted against the move. The former Bolton midfielder holds the record for Premier League games played without earning a solitary England cap.
Robbie Fowler
Despite his insane goal-scoring record for Liverpool from the age of 18, Fowler only managed to play 26 times for England.
Fowler’s career with the national team was always halted due to injury. With Alan Shearer and Teddy Sheringham above him in the pecking order, the Liverpool legend was unable to secure a regular starting position.
Andy Cole
When it comes to Premier League legends, Andy Cole’s name deserves to be mentioned with the very best of them. Yet for whatever reason, Cole is rarely spoken with legendary status and maybe his poor England career was the cause of that.
Cole was an iconic figure at Manchester United and Newcastle and managed to score 185 goals in the Premier League era. But he only managed to make 15 appearances for England.
Les Ferdinand
Sir Les Ferdinand! The definition of a ‘typical number 9’, Ferdinand had it all and didn’t fail to deliver for Newcastle, QPR or Tottenham during the Premier League era.
Ferdinand was absolutely sensational in the box but only manged 17 appearances for his national team.