Wayne Bridge withdraws from england squad

Bridge turns back on England

City defender makes himself unavailable for selection

By Rob Parrish   Last updated: 25th February 2010 

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.

http://www.skysports.com/football/world-cup-2010/story/0,27032,12098_5979800,00.html

I know a lot of liverpool fans dont give a toss about england but as a liverpool fan who does and im sure there is a lot who do I was just wondering what damage this could have on englands chances/moral ahead of the summer

Feel so sorry for him. I don't think Terry is going to go down well with the England fans at Wembley when they play Egypt.

Feel so sorry for him. I don't think Terry is going to go down well with the England fans at Wembley when they play Egypt.

England fans don't need an excuse to boo anyone, just look at their treatment of John Barnes!!

Yep mate feel for the lad,imagine the grief he,s going to get at chavski on saturday aswell.It always seems just before a world cup england can shoot themselves in the foot time and time again.

England fans don't need an excuse to boo anyone, just look at their treatment of John Barnes!!

Very true. Most of them are bitter lower league fans looking for a chance to see a team they support win, with some mancs and chavs dotted around.

I bet you Capello has another go at bringing Jamie back before it all kicks off in June.

Very true. Most of them are bitter lower league fans looking for a chance to see a team they support win, with some mancs and chavs dotted around.

I bet you Capello has another go at bringing Jamie back before it all kicks off in June.

Odds on that one.

Very true. Most of them are bitter lower league fans looking for a chance to see a team they support win, with some mancs and chavs dotted around.

I bet you Capello has another go at bringing Jamie back before it all kicks off in June.

well with the state of englands defence at the moment its not a bad idea to have a word with jamie......think he said he,s going to the world cup but only as a fan.

Funny how the innocent party in all of this is the one going to lose out on what he loves. Terry will go to the world cup probably with his armband back and his wife by his side. She continues to have a great life. Bridge on the other hand loses out on a chance to win a world cup medal and ironically he might have started most games if the other cheating c**t from Chelsea isnt fit by then!!

Thought he was going to be the bigger man and play for England.

Never mind.

Listening to TalkSport before though and there were a lot of people ringing in saying that Terry should be dropped. Firstly it was as if they were assuming that Bridge would make himself available again if Terry dropped out and secondly I think that would be foolish. Dropping Terry would cause further problems I feel.

Guess we'll be looking at call-ups for the likes of Warnock or Baines perhaps.

Thanks John! Hope you're proud of yourself.

Bridge shouldn't have dropped himself. He'll regret it when he's older if England do well.

That's what he should be thinking.

Wayne bridge should have rang John terry up and said to him,  "I am going to train hard, and earn my place on the plane to Sth Africa, and if you are on that plane I am going to smash your teeth in"

Bridge shouldn't have dropped himself. He'll regret it when he's older if England do well.

That's what he should be thinking.

Dead right - besides if Bridge smashes that tw*t about knee height on Saturday its problem solved.

Im sorry but Bridge you have let yourself down - face up to that f**ker and let him know you will NOT be beaten.

How he could have let that w**ker get the upper hand baffles me - grow some bollox man.

Feel bad for the lad. Who here could play football and be captained by your ex best mate who was shagging your missus behind your back? I couldn't.

Actually to be honest Id probably have tried to break his leg in training, and then left.

I actually think Baines is a better player but I feel sorry for him.

Looks like Baines or Warnock will fill his temp boots until Cashley returns.

Feel sorry for Wayne Bridge, your mate goes behind your back with your Mrs, then you have to drop out the England squad cos you cant face him. 

He's the innocent party in all of this while John Terry is hailed a hero.

Got the shitty end of the stick has our Wayne.

Bit arl arse that. He should have just stuck it out.

John Terry is a c*nt isn't he? It's okay though. We made him cry a couple of times.

I feel sorry for the guy, really do. And as a guy who has had my mate go behind my back and try pick up birds im with, i completely understand. And my mate has a girlfriend as well! I wasn't even as serious as Wayne seems to have been with his missus either, so it must be hard. I know some people in here are saying he shoulda just stuck it out, but i know how much it can cut you up inside. Everytime you see the face of the guy it fucks with your mind. It really can cause all sorts of problems, and potentially could really mess with the team. I say fair play to him for recognizing that it could have a negative affected the team in its quest for the cup. Feel sorry for him, really do. Hope Terry breaks a leg before the tournament, doesn't deserve to be there.

Terry shags his bird and he has to pull out of the squad.

What a c**t, Terry is.

Just because of the irresponsible behaviour of Terry, Bridge has lost his missus and his England place for something which he did nothing wrong.

He must feel so hurt, so angry. Imagine losing 2 of the things closest to you because of your best friend?

So sorry for Bridge.

Looks like Baines or Warnock will fill his temp boots until Cashley returns.

Milner is more likely.

Wayne Bridge should have held his head high and said to Terry, "Up yours mate, I'm not going to miss out on a chance like this. I've done nothing wrong, if anyone should step down it should be you"

But we all know Terry won't do that because he's a selfish two faced rat who only thinks about himself.