Bridge turns back on England

City defender unavailable for World Cup selection

By Rob Parrish   Last updated: 3rd March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Bridge turns back on England

Bridge: Unavailable for selection

After careful thought I believe my position in the squad is now untenable and potentially divisive.

Wayne Bridge.
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Wayne Bridge has made himself unavailable for selection by England as he feels his position in the squad is 'untenable and potentially divisive'.

Bridge has found himself unwittingly thrust into the spotlight in recent weeks following allegations of an affair between his ex-girlfriend and former Chelsea team-mate John Terry.

Terry was stripped of the England captaincy as a result of the lurid claims with Fabio Capello keen to maintain squad unity ahead of the World Cup finals.

Bridge was expected to play a key role for his country this summer with first-choice left-back Ashley Cole a major doubt for the tournament due to a fractured ankle.

Bridge and Terry will face each other for the first time since the allegations emerged when City travel to Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on Saturday.

The duo were then expected to meet up again with the England squad as Capello's side tackle Egypt at Wembley in a friendly on Wednesday.

Untenable

But the full-back has now announced in a statement released by his lawyers that he no longer wishes to be considered for selection.

The statement read: "I have thought long and hard about my position in the England football team in the light of the reporting and events over the last few weeks.

"It has always been an honour to play for England. However, after careful thought I believe my position in the squad is now untenable and potentially divisive.

"Sadly therefore I feel 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.

"I have today informed the management of this decision. I wish the team all the very best in South Africa."

Attention will now turn to who will fill the left-back void for England, with Everton defender Leighton Baines and Aston Villa's Stephen Warnock the leading candidates.

Comments (103)

Jonathan Goldie (Newcastle United fan) says...

JT has single handledly ruined the great spirit in the world cup team, he should be the one stepping down.... He's a disgrace

Posted 11:59 28th February 2010

Ken Mckay (Queens Park Rangers fan) says...

Bridge is a fool. Terry is a bigger fool. Professional Footballers are supposed to be role models to young people. Terry has an affair with Bridge's ex. Who is to say that Bridge didnt do the same to his ex when he first met her I would guarantee she was still seeing someone else then she met Bridge "oh great" she thought" i'm going out with England's 3rd choice left back" we could replace Bridge we could replace JT they don't make England, England made them. then there is Gerrard , caught punching someone on cctv he paid a QC to get him off now he's captain. Sorry must go to Bobby Moore not as good as any of the three but a much better captain,leader and all round human being

Posted 11:56 28th February 2010

Alan Coleman says...

I think Terry should have faced up to his responsibilities and pulled out of the squad.He's the divisive one. His antics will cost England the world cup

Posted 11:44 28th February 2010

Evans Salvo (Manchester United fan) says...

This was to be the biggest chance at a genuine shot at winning the world cup and the Chelski duo, have almost single-handedly ruined that chance. After reading some of these comment posted her, yes Terry is one of our biggest players, but no one player makes a team, he has let down not only Bridge, but the nation is this controversy. Maybe Terry should have paid her more money!!!!!

Posted 12:42 26th February 2010

Lewis Talbot (Manchester United fan) says...

I don't think that much of either player as footballers, Terry was shocking in Milan the other night, and since Chelsea have played one less in midfield has shown his true colours (even at prem level). But there an obvious class gap in terms of being human.

Posted 12:17 26th February 2010

Joseph Cornforth (Chelsea fan) says...

I know many are having a go at JT, and I for one am disgusted for what he did, but not that I'm taking sides, we all have to realise he is only human and we all make mistakes, especially footballers. Fair play to Bridge, but I will keep hoping for a miracle that he changes his mind and is ready to bring the World Cup back to England.

Posted 11:54 26th February 2010

Yasir Khan (Manchester United fan) says...

Somebody please explain me ... whats wrong in it ... if John Terry had an affair with Bridge's "X-Girl Friend" .......... its her X girl friend .... ..... not a girlfriend anymore ......... whats wrong in it ? i just dont get it ..........

Posted 10:36 26th February 2010

Callum Stein (West Ham United fan) says...

It makes me sick to see what players do in there personal life but football is football and should no affect his england choices !!!

Posted 10:28 26th February 2010

Andy Sear (Manchester City fan) says...

well done wayne its ok for everyone to say he should get over it but if it all goes wrong at the world cup who will the chelsea and man u fans blame wayne he is better off out of it

Posted 09:55 26th February 2010

Sean Allan says...

Does Wayne Bridge have a Scottish granny or a relative who went to Ayr beach one summer, we'll have him :)

Posted 09:51 26th February 2010

Derek L (Aston Villa fan) says...

Shouldn't this just be about football, and whats best for England. Jonh Terry is far and away our best defender, and Captain, 2nd choice should be Gerrard then Barry, Wayne Bridge? is he really good enough? Steven Warnock is the best of the rest, But Gareth Barry can play there easily, So whats the problem? there isnt one!

Posted 08:22 26th February 2010

Ben Vowles says...

Typical idiotic comment from the geordie Dave Ridley, yes what Terry did was wrong but lets face it Wayne Bridge wouldnt even get a mention if Ashley Cole was fit, he is a 2nd rate player and he has proved to the nation he can not step up and rise to the challenge and be a winner for England. Morales do not win games, winners win games!

Posted 08:19 26th February 2010

Al Macleod (Manchester United fan) says...

Like most everybody else Ithink Terry should show some of the character he is supposed to have and let Bridge fulfill a dream for him and play at the World Cup instead of him. I will not be pleased to see Terry in an England shirt at the World Cup (& Ashley Cole for that matter) NO-ONE is too good to get rid of ask Sir Alex! Sol Campbell shows the sort of character we need as England players, and Wayne himself would make the RIGHT replacement for Cole at left back Maybe Capello will make Terry's decision for him (again!)

Posted 07:59 26th February 2010

Louise Hill (Chelsea fan) says...

What goes on off the pitch should stay off the pitch. It just goes to show that playing for England is no longer an honour. Playing for England is something that should be fought for and if Wayne Bridge has given up that easily does he really have the right mentality to play for England anyway? I'm sure that it's a awful situation to be in but really as a proffesionals they should both just get on with it. Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face.

Posted 07:52 26th February 2010

John King (Chelsea fan) says...

Well done Wayne this you may regret but you have done more to help England. This would have been the main story not the football.Its a shame that footballers wit over inflated egoes and large wallets cant be loyal to their partners and keep the balls on the end of the foot

Posted 07:37 26th February 2010

Ray Pass (Stoke City fan) says...

Its a shame he has done this and its John Terry that should have been doing this instead!

Posted 07:36 26th February 2010

Pat Shepherd (Manchester United fan) says...

I admire Wayne Bridge for his decision it can't have been easy for him and at least he hasn't disgraced himself like Terry has. To err is human to be greedy is downright selfish. Terry should have been dropped from the England team, his ppresence there will still cause unrest, if he has any remorse he should resign and Wayne Bridge can then play.

Posted 07:09 26th February 2010

Dave Nash (Manchester United fan) says...

Forget Bridge . . . We've better options as a second choice leftback anyways! Baines to name someone. Its horrible whats happened to him, but he shouldnt be going to the world cup on a sympathy note!

Posted 07:06 26th February 2010

Trevor Loring says...

Bridge should get over himself turning down the biggest oppourtunity of his life to play for his country in the world cup finals. As for Leaving Terry out there is no way he should be left out the world cup squad who would replace him? Lescott or upson who are both as unreliable as Ferdinand. If Cole isnt fit we have 2 perfectly good left backs in Warnock and Baines who are having great seasons Capello has no reason to worry about losing bridge

Posted 06:14 26th February 2010

Darren Cash says...

Wayne Bridge, at best, is an average player. The only reason he's considered for England is because a) he has a left foot and b) his preferred position is left back. Therefore he should not look a gift horse in the mouth as this could be his best shot of being part of a winning England side! I also don't agree that any player (Shearer, Scholes, I'm talking to you too!) should have the right to 'retire' or declare themselves 'unavailable' for England duty. It's the greatest honour for an English footballer; England should choose you, not the other way around. Can't imagine Capello being too happy with the words "sorry boss, I can't play because that bloke over there slept with my ex". Get over it mate, pull on the England shirt, and help win us the World Cup!!

Posted 03:57 26th February 2010

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