By AVI CREDITOR
The Wayne Bridge-John Terry saga has reached new heights.
Bridge has taken himself out of national-team consideration for the World Cup, further depleting England's options at left back and adding another chapter to an ugly story for the Three Lions.
The Manchester City defender released a statement Thursday in which he claimed that his inclusion on the team would be "untenable and potentially divisive."
Bridge also said, "For the sake of the team, and in order to avoid what will be inevitable distractions, I have decided not to put myself forward for selection."
With Ashley Cole recovering from a broken ankle, Everton's Leighton Baines could be next in line at left back in Fabio Capello's squad, which hosts Egypt in a March 3 friendly.
Here are a few other stories happening this Thursday:
SALVADOR CABANAS UPDATE
Six bar employees have been charged with covering for the gunman in the Salvador Cabanas shooting that took place in Mexico a month ago. After the shooting the workers allegedly helped the gunman, who still remains at large, according to the Associated Press.
Cabanas, meanwhile, is recovering from the shot to the head. He is out of the intensive care unit and is reportedly talking and exercising.
PORTSMOUTH HEADS INTO ADMINISTRATION
Portsmouth will become the first Barclays Premier League team to go into administration, as four prospective buyers for the team did not have sufficient-enough offers by Thursday's deadline.
Last-place Pompey will lose nine points in the standings and is all but facing definite relegation. The club will be financially restructured by an accounting firm, but by going into administration it avoids being shut down altogether.
ANDERSON OUT FOR SEASON
Manchester United suffered a blow to its midfield depth as Brazilian international Anderson will be out for the season after tearing a ligament in his knee in the first half of Tuesday's win over West Ham.
With Michael Carrick suspended for the Red Devils' second-leg Champions League match with AC Milan and Ryan Giggs' status up in the air because of a broken arm, Sir Alex Ferguson's options in the midfield have thinned out considerably.
CECH TO MISS SCOTLAND FRIENDLY
Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech was taken off the pitch via stretcher during the Blues' 2-1 loss to Inter Milan Wednesday, with the extent of his apparent calf injury still unknown.
What is known is that he has not been included in the Czech Republic squad for the team's friendly with Scotland next week.
Cech suffered a non-contact injury against Inter and is a staple of Chelsea's defense. Henrique Hilario is next in line to start should Cech miss an extended period of time.
The United States faces a possible Cech-less Czech Republic in a May 25 friendly.
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Do you think Bridge did the right thing by quitting the national team? Amazed at Cabanas' recovery? Think AC Milan can stun a somewhat-depleted Manchester United in their second leg? Hope Cech is in the squad that the United States will face?
Share your thoughts below.
I actually think Baines is in better form than Bridge, so this is not much of a loss for England (IMO).
We may have been bitten by the injury bug, but at least it isn’t the scandal bug.
About to say the same thing. Baines can cause us problems too.
Bridge is just afraid of Landon dribbling at him.
Baines has been in better form. Plus Warnock has been playing well too. England’s left back position will be fine. I would like Dempsey up against either of those two left backs, heck Dempesy has scored a few times against Chelsea so I would like him up against Cole too.
Honestly – when you have a guy bowing out of the squad because of the scumbag move Terry pulled, shouldn’t you consider removing Terry?
I know he’s good when he wants to be…but Miletto made him look like a fool yesterday. There are plenty of options in England – Go with Lescott and Ferdinand then have guys like Wes Brown or Jonny Evans, and whoever’s healthy out of King, Jagielka or Woodgate.
jonny evans plays for northern ireland.
Terry means more to the England National Team than a second string left back coming off an injury.
Can Terry please make the moves on Rooney wife.
Rooney’s -oops
I think England have the personnel to compensate for a few injuries or a player dropping out of the squad here and there — the most intriguing thing to me here is the psychological impact these developments may have upon the team. We’ve all heard about players who have disliked each other forming great partnerships on the pitch, but I think these recent developments are different in scope and nature — I can see them having a divisive or demoralizing effect in the dressing room. The Bridge development is testament to the fact that Terry’s actions have already undermined team unity.
Playing England will never be an easy task, but from the perspective of a U.S. supporter, it is encouraging that many of the the U.S. players seem to be making incredible strides in overcoming adversity and creating strong bonds with each other just as it seems England’s unity is crumbling. I guess we’ll see how much of this transfers to the pitch come June.
Haha that would be the most intense battle royale ever. Two, crazy Englishman that just don’t give an eff and are probably the two most intense personalities in the English squad.
Someone get Wayne Bridge on a plane to Chicago, Il to meet with the USSF IMMEDIATELY. Get him a pen and paper and have him switch allegiances to the red, white and blue!
I read last night on UEFA.com that the initial reports were that Cech ruptured ligaments in either his ankle or knee. Whatever the matter, he’s probably out for the season.
With three +? English clubs threatened into administration and one Premier League club in administration this season, the FA needs to man up and create a financial system that is sustainable. A salary cap would be great for the general appeal to the league, although would make relegation for clubs more likely. However, the English are so near-sighted they’ll never do anything.
Ferdinand is also hurt. He isn’t likely to return before the end of the season. His back has been killing him all year. England’s problems are compounding higher than a 2006 high interest mortgage (da-da… ching!)
Anyone have any insight on “Colombian starlet” Miguel Montano? Supposedly the 18 year old is on his way to the Sounders.
Curious to know if this kid is a legitimate player.
(ACES – feel free to gripe about a Sounders’ hijacking of the thread now.)
Im sorry but this “Anderson” needs a to get a new one name, there is only 1 Brazilian “Anderson” and its Anderson “The Spider” Silva.
A salary cap would never make any league appealable. People go to big leagues for the competition and the cash.
Does any team have more injuries or drama than US and England (respectively)?
I would LOVE to see England field any of Lescott, Brown or Evans in the middle…..because their form is waaaay off, especially Lescott and Brown. (I just don’t think Evans is that good.) AS far as Ferdinand, he was in horrible form too before his latest string of injuries. Never would have thought the back 4 would be a problem for England, but at this point, if I’m them I field the following, assuming they all get healthy:
Baines — Jagielka — Terry (barf) — Johnson
Is the bullet still in his head?
Honorable move by Bridge…something Terry should have thought of if had any class. Can’t wait ’till the US beats them in June
Is it me, or is Bridge a freaking pansy? Terry had an affair with an ex of yours, not a current girlfriend of yours. The only people this should bother are Terry and his wife. Personally, I wouldn’t care if the entire National team ran train on my ex. She’s an ex for a reason, right?
Or am I just insensitive?
Drama . . . OOOOOHHHH, I dunno — Soctland, maybe? All of these teams have problems — high profile, big-headed people with a media scrambling to come up with dirt.
In terms of injuries, the US has it bad, yes. I think Paraguay has had some issues, too (or at least one issue.)
Last I heard was that it still is in his head and will remain there for now.
To risky to remove.
She wasn’t his ex at the time;)
Once again….Evans is not English.
The ex in question is the mother of Bridge’s child – not as if she’s out of his life entirely…
Baines is more than a competent stand-in. Other than giving points to Bridge for experience, I think that Baines or Warnock were in better form anyway. I think Cole’s likely to be healthy when the first match rolls around anyway.
Or maybe he saw the notorious water fountain photo and he’s afraid of Landon dribbling ON him.
You are insensitive- they were together at the time and she is the mother of Bridge’s child. There is no coming back from this for Terry and Bridge.
This is early enough so it won’t affect chemistry come June, so smart move by Capello or whomever pulled this string.
Evans is Northern Irish – won’t happen.
or Jonny Evans?
Everything I read said they weren’t together at the time. If they were, that changes everything completely.
A “pansy”, or he wants to keep himself from pulverizing Terry’s maxillofacial bones. Something like that.
Ever since that putz made fun of American tourists in the wake of 9/11, I’ve been waiting for someone to do that. I literally cheered a few years back when he got kicked directly in the face and got knocked out.
“Personally, I wouldn’t care if the entire National team ran train on my ex”
LMAO! In principle I agree with you. However it’s a little different due to these guys being such high profile personalities in, of all places, England. The tabloid press in England is RE-DICk-YOU-LUSS. This story would have to be relived over and over and over until after the WC. He’s obviously hurt and needs to be left alone to deal with it.
Sigh….I’ve got one of those mortgages….at least my back doesn’t hurt!
Rooney would beat Terry’s a@@.
It’s not about the woman, it’s about the betrayal of a friend
All this scandel crap makes me more impressed with the 1998 US WC team coach and his stand by sacking Harkes before the WC started. Instead of telling Wynalda to play along side Harkes and forget what happened, he took a stand…Thats the same thing that should happen to Terry….It seems only the wives, kids and offended Bridge are paying the price…
LOL….yeah what about Jonny Evans? He’s from some small Island near Europe…he could play for em.
Be serious. There are no better options in that spot for England than John Terry. ZERO. He is more important than Wayne Bridge.
Personally I feel bad for Bridge. He is falling on John Terry’s sword.
* Yawn *
Whatever.
You feel bad? They are professionals. And only Bridge seems to have the inability to act like one. He’s only hurting himself and that is plain stupid.
You could field their 4th team defenders and it wouldn’t matter. They will be going against Ching and Casey lol.
So did his ex/baby momma/whatever. That’s what started this whole thing….
Capello should dump Terry – whether or not Bridge comes back or not. He, and now Ashley Cole are a disgrace to the English team and both should be dumped.
Terry is no leader – he cries and whines just like the rest of the spoiled Chelsea players.
Now THAT’S hilarious.
Hmm. You mean like the NFL and NBA aren’t appealing?
I’d take Rooney too. He looks like the kind of guy that would kick you in the nuts
Wait, so a captain running around and undermining team unity by sleeping with a club AND national teammate’s significant other is professional, but bowing out politely for personal reasons isn’t? Come off it. Terry created this entire mess when he couldn’t keep it in his pants. Captains and teammates need to carry a certain amount of responsibility with them on and off the pitch.
I really wish I had a visual on some of the boneheads who post on this site. Between this, the Ashley Cole tread, and the passing of Fernando Rossi announcement, I’ve seen so much retarded machismo and myopic insensitivity on this site over the past few days to make me wonder just who the hell is posting.
Bridge is a drama queen. This is the freaking World Cup, buddy. You’re going to punish yourself because of Terry’s despicable behavior? How is that courageous? We keep hearing about how these guys can separate soccer from private life….I guess not. I dunno….some might say he’s doing an honorable thing….I just don’t see it.
And is “administration” bankruptcy? Can someone put this into Americanese for us?
I’m amazed that these guys are unable to act professionally about this. As a musician, I’ve seen similar situations unfold within bands… but ultimately everyone still gets on stage and plays, because we’re rock’n'rollers and that’s what we do. These guys are footballers, and they get paid millions to play a child’s game, and in their position I can’t imagine worrying about anything other than: “Eff it, I’m playing in the World effing Cup.”
They are both responses to insolvency. They are quite similar. In the US, sometimes entities will “go into receivership” which is even closer to the UK concept.
No, he meant appealing to players, not to fans. If you haven’t noticed, the NFL and NBA’s player unions HATE the league and it’s mostly because of the salary cap. If the players had it their way, there would be no salary cap in either of these leagues. This is why a league that currently has NO salary cap (i.e. EPL) could neverrrrr get one. The players / rich clubs wouldn’t stand for it.
Ahh, receivership. I know this because of Louis Tully
It never ceases to amaze me at how England manages to self destruct through the media year in and year out. I also can’t believe how big of dirtballs their players are. This can only help the USA
Agreed, alot of people who post on here act like hardasses when guaranteed they’re not. If this happened to any of you, ANY OF YOU, you’d make the same decision Bridge did. I promise you. How could you play LB while the guy who ****ed your child’s mother plays at CB next to you. I’d want to punch him on the field.
It’s not a question of professionalism, there are more important things in life than the World Cup. Notice Bridge isn’t ducking out of this week’s game against Chelsea, because that’s his actual JOB. International play is a choice, not required.
Or Altidore, Donovan, and Dempsey more likely…and maybe Davies too…burn.
Damn, sounds like England has a difficult decision on who to call up. It feels great to know as a fan of the USMNT that we don’t have any connundrum over a troublesome LB selection…, ;hopefully the sarcasm comes through, haha
well said Jamie Z!
We’ve got Michael Vick, Tiger, Baseball P.E. Drugs, various NBA gun-toting thugs….England has their footballers. THey have no corner on the market for scumbag athletes.
loud and clear.
I certainly didn’t mean to imply that we don’t. Its sad but you just can’t look up to any athletes these days.
well said.
I hope he gets juked severely by Dempsey, then tracks back and lunges hitting the ball and scoring an own goal. This goal eliminates them from advancing from the group stage. That would be sweet karma.
+5
yeah, it’s tough to find that many sports figures to actually ‘like’ as people.
Ah well, they don’t need to be people, they need to entertain us on the playing field, I suppose.
Regards,
yeah, what a bummer for them.
Ya, even in our worst nightmares BB wouldn’t field a team like that (knock on wood). Get your head out of your ***
Yeah rooney would definetly win that fight, used to be a boxer.
Maybe Bridge took himself out for John Terry’s safety because if one of my team mates pulled the crap that Terry did, I’d bash their head in.
To be fair, I’m sure most of the posters are fairly level-headed blokes, but there is definitely a visible minority of mind-boggling idiots who have been getting to me. I just looked over some of Elite Hunting’s posts and I can’t believe he’s serious with some of the things he posts: profoundly argumentative and misguided.
Oh i’m sorry you don’t think Ching or Casey will see the field? GTFO.
I will root for any team playing us until we either field our best players or we stop playing some of the worst soccer in the world. We have a racist coach who refuses to play our hispanic players and plays the worst formations in the world and blames it on our players. We will always have a hard time with the likes of Pearce, Casey, and Ching….are you kidding me what a joke our country is at soccer.
i seem to remember reading a couple weeks ago that wynalda told sampson he was okay with harkes being on the team, and that sampson dropped him anyways.