CRAIG: I MAY QUIT WALES; Bellamy facing a choice between club and country.Byline: BEN THORNLEY Benjamin Thornley (born April 21, 1975) in Bury, England, is a footballer who currently plays for Wilmslow Albion in the East Cheshire Sunday Football League Division two. CRAIG BELLAMY For the rugby league football coach and former player, see . Craig Douglas Bellamy (born July 13 1979 in Canton, Cardiff) is a Welsh international footballer. He currently plays for West Ham United in the Premier League. may quit Wales if Manchester City qualify for the Champions League. The 30-year-old, who will captain John Toshack's injury-ravaged side against Finland in Helsinki in the World Cup 2010 Group Four qualifier today, has been in the form of his life for the Eastlands outfit this season. From Back Page Despite City spending pounds 88m on three strikers in the summer - Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor Emmanuel Adebayor (born February 26, 1984 in Lomé, Togo) is a Togolese football player who currently plays for Arsenal. He had previously played for FC Metz and AS Monaco. He is of Nigerian descent via his parents who were born in the Osun State in south-west Nigeria. and Roque Santa Cruz Roque Luis Santa Cruz (born 16 August 1981 in Asunción) is a Paraguayan football striker, who currently plays for Blackburn Rovers. Career Club Olimpia Asunción- Bellamy has established himself as the number one forward at the club, netting four goals in his last five appearances.And with Mark Hughes' men - who currently sit in fourth in the Premier League - looking realistic challengers for a Champions League. berth this term, Bellamy admits he would be forced to consider his international future should City claim a place in Europe's premier competition. The former Liverpool man has previously vowed he would never follow the example of Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs Ryan Joseph Giggs OBE[2] (born Ryan Joseph Wilson on 29 November 1973 in Cardiff) is a Welsh footballer, currently playing for Manchester United in the English Premiership, and formerly for the Welsh national team prior to his retirement from international and walk out on Wales. However, Bellamy fears his troublesome knee, which has curtailed much of his career, would be unable to cope with the combined demands of club and country. One possible compromise would be for the skipper to play only in competitive internationals. City's Carlos Tevez "If we get into the Champions League. at Manchester City, which we are all trying to do, and I'm still a very big part of that then I have to be realistic," he said. "Can I compete in Champions League., Premier League and everyday is a battle to fight for your place in the league? "Am I able to play 60 games a season? Probably not. I want to play for Wales and I'll go from there. I don't know. If my knee is sore one week then realistically friendlies in Australia on a Wednesday, for example, may not work out for me." A 2-0 defeat to today's opponents back in March ended Wales' faint hopes of qualifying for World Cup 2012. But some might argue that ended the day Wales were drawn in the same group against Russia and Germany. Which is why Bellamy is adamant the campaign to reach the next major tournament, Euro 2012, effectively begins now as Wales aim to pip today's hosts to third place in a bid to improve their world ranking. "If we can finish third it would be a good achievement for us. If we look back we are not good enough to compete with Russia and Germany," he added. "If we can finish third it would give us an extra chance in the (draw for the Euro 2012 ) qualifying group." Club versus country for striker Bell CAPTION(S): Wales skipper Craig Bellamy |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion