Paul Scholes has recently revealed that had Fabio Capello asked him about coming out of international retirement before the World Cup finals then he probably would have yes. However at 35-years-old could Scholes have still been of use to the England team?
The Manchester United midfielder decided to call time on his England career after Euro 2004, in order to prolong his club career and so he could spend more time with his family. However Fabio Capello believed that he could have been a key asset to the team in South Africa so he asked him to reconsider his decision. Scholes as expected declined the offer but he has now revealed that he would have linked up with his England team mates again had he been asked earlier.
Scholes said: “It’s a big decision and I wasn’t really given enough time to think about it, so I decided not to take up the offer, if they’d asked me earlier I probably would have accepted.”
He added: “There are players in the squad who have spent nearly two years flying all around the world helping England qualify for the World Cup, whereas I haven’t been involved for a long time. It wasn’t a case of wanting to go on holiday, it was the fact that I got the call so close to the tournament, and also I didn’t want to take the place of someone who helped get England to South Africa. The idea just didn’t sit comfortably with me.”
His decision to decline the call-up because he didn’t want to take the place of a team mate who had worked hard to help the team qualify is very admirable and should be commended. However the hard work that has been shown by a lot of the England team is exactly the reason why Scholes wouldn’t have been too much use to England in the World Cup.
Whilst he wouldn’t have been a bad squad player to have, he probably wouldn’t have got much playing time and out of the players that were picked in central midfield for England; he could have only really taken the place of Michael Carrick or James Milner. Taking Milner’s place would have been extremely harsh on him as he has had a fantastic season for Aston Villa, and his versatility to play on either side of midfield means he gives England more options than Scholes. As for Carrick, well the squad needs a defensive midfielder and although he isn’t the greatest one England could have chosen he is in the squad. If Scholes took his place then we wouldn’t have a single midfielder on the bench capable of coming on to protect a lead.
Although Scholes had a good season for Manchester United, he didn’t have as big impact on their season as Milner did with Aston Villa or Frank Lampard at Chelsea. Steven Gerrard and Gareth Barry are also pivotal players for England so it remains to be seen just where Scholes would fit in. At 35, he wouldn’t of been able to play in every game at the World Cup so all of his appearances would have likely been 10 minute or so cameo roles.
There is no doubt that Scholes has been and still is a terrific player, but the chapter of his international career shouldn’t have been re-opened for South Africa.
Do you think Scholes could have been of use to England in South Africa?
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