• World Cup

Neville hits out at Capello's squad selection

ESPN Soccernet staff
May 18, 2010
Gary Neville has 85 England caps and has played at five major tournaments © Getty Images
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Gary Neville has hit out at Fabio Capello's squad selection for the World Cup finals, and accused him of being "desperate" in trying to talk Paul Scholes out of international retirement.

Neville was thought to be in with a chance of making the England squad for this summer's tournament in South Africa, but Capello opted to take Jamie Carragher, who has not played for his country since 2007, as back-up for Glen Johnson.

Capello is not the first coach to attempt to coax Scholes back into an England shirt, in fact every coach has attempted to persuade him to return since his retirement after the Euro 2004 finals. But Neville was clearly not impressed with the move.

"I wouldn't say I'm overly disappointed not to be in the initial 30-man England World Cup squad," Neville told the Sun. "I thought there was a chance I could get in but I was under no illusions how tough it would be, after not being named in the squad for a year.

"I'm slightly surprised there is only one right-back in the entire squad, but I'm probably more surprised Wes Brown isn't in the 30.

"Capello spoke to Paul but he retired a few years ago and he's not the type to go back on that. I'm not surprised Capello tried to get him out of retirement because, if there is one player I would try to bring back, it is Scholes.

"Capello maybe got a bit desperate at the last minute and wanted Scholes because he is still probably the country's best midfielder - but Scholes stuck to his guns."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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