Pearce names squad
Team GB coach Stuart Pearce has named his 18-man squad for the London Olympics.
Last Updated: 02/07/12 5:16pm
Team GB coach Stuart Pearce has named his 18-man squad for the London Olympics, with 13 English and five Welsh players making the cut.
Pearce has not picked any Scottish or Northern Irish players and the 2012 Games is the first time that Team GB have competed in the men's football competition since the 1960 Olympics in Rome.
The announcement of the squad confirmed that David Beckham has missed out with Ryan Giggs, Craig Bellamy and Micah Richards named as the three over-age players allowed - all the others have to be under-23.
Swansea have three players named, the most of any club - Scott Sinclair, Joe Allen and Neil Taylor, while Tottenham defender Steven Caulker, who has also been included, was on loan at the Liberty Stadium last season.
Chelsea's Daniel Sturridge is also chosen, as is Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey and Tom Cleverley of Manchester United. Tottenham's Gareth Bale would have been selected but has been ruled out due to injury.
Not an easy task
Pearce said: "It has not been an easy task to finalise my squad for this tournament, and the stature of the competition and uniqueness of the occasion has underlined the importance of every choice I have made.
"With just 18 places it is very different from other international tournaments, the options are limited, but it is the Olympic Games and every player in this squad should be very proud they have a chance to compete for a gold medal on home soil.
"I remember the huge advantage we gained from playing in front of our own fans during Euro 96, and I'm sure with the nation behind us it could be a fantastic tournament for us."
Team GB kick off their campaign at Manchester's Old Trafford against Senegal on 26th July, play the United Arab Emirates at Wembley on 29th July, before their final group fixture against Uruguay at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on 1st August.
Team GB squad for London 2012:
Goalkeepers: Jack Butland (Birmingham), Jason Steele (Middlesbrough).
Defenders: Ryan Bertrand (Chelsea), Steven Caulker (Tottenham), Craig Dawson (West Brom), Micah Richards (Manchester City), Neil Taylor (Swansea), James Tomkins (West Ham).
Midfielders: Joe Allen (Swansea), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Jack Cork (Southampton), Ryan Giggs (Manchester United), Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal), Danny Rose (Tottenham), Scott Sinclair (Swansea).
Strikers: Craig Bellamy (Liverpool), Marvin Sordell (Bolton), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea).
