Monday, June 11, 2007
England players advised Bentley to withdraw
Several of England's senior players advised the Blackburn winger David Bentley to pull out of the European Under-21 Championship which starts today in Holland.
In a radio interview yesterday afternoon, Bentley revealed he had consulted some of Steve McClaren's players before his last-minute withdrawal.
His decision left England a man short for the event and left Stuart Pearce, England's under-21 manager, furious.
An FA spokesman said: "We are 100 per cent behind the manager. Stuart is the coach and he has said that when your country calls you, you go."
Bentley telephoned the TalkSport radio station yesterday to defend his decision not to travel to the tournament, having listened to critical callers on the station's phone-in.
He revealed his decision to withdraw came only after talking to unnamed England players during the recent international programme against Brazil and Estonia.
In a radio interview yesterday afternoon, Bentley revealed he had consulted some of Steve McClaren's players before his last-minute withdrawal.
His decision left England a man short for the event and left Stuart Pearce, England's under-21 manager, furious.
An FA spokesman said: "We are 100 per cent behind the manager. Stuart is the coach and he has said that when your country calls you, you go."
Bentley telephoned the TalkSport radio station yesterday to defend his decision not to travel to the tournament, having listened to critical callers on the station's phone-in.
He revealed his decision to withdraw came only after talking to unnamed England players during the recent international programme against Brazil and Estonia.
