Chris Smalling: I'm keen to play in both the Olympics and Euro 2012
Chris Smalling The Euro 2012 versus Olympics debate has caused ructions in football. Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger joined forces last week to condemn the notion that players could be asked to squeeze in both next summer.
The European Championships begin in Warsaw on June 8 and end in Kiev on July 1.
Just 24 days later the London Olympic football tournament starts, running until August 12, with the Premier League beginning a week later.
Although the bulk of the Olympic squad have to be under 23, boss Stuart Pearce can pick three over-age players for the tournament.
The FA refuse to be locked into a policy of ruling out any player for the Olympics if they were in Englands Euro 2012 squad.
However, it seems likely that players will only be selected for one or the other.
While the debate rages on. Uniteds Chris Smalling simply would like the opportunity to make one of the major showpiece tournaments. The 21-year-old defender has broken into Fabio Capellos England squad since moving to United and, having played for Pearce at last summers Under-21 Championships, he would certainly be a contender for the Olympics.
And with the Games on the doorstep of the Greenwich-born defenders manor, it would be a career highlight.
I have to say that England is not my first target at the moment and neither are the Olympics. United is what I am thinking about, said Smalling. But towards the end of the season I will be looking towards that and hopefully I might get into the England squad. Obviously Id love to go there.
There is also the Olympics as well. A lot of the lads who went to the Under-21 Championships last summer will be able to play in it.
Whether it is the Euros, the Olympics, or both you would like to be involved b! ecause t hese opportunities do not come around too often.
Smallings immediate concern is to get over Sundays wretched derby mauling by City.
It has been a meteoric rise for the defender, from non-League football to a brief spell at Fulham before United swooped in 2010 to land the then relative unknown for a stunning 10m.
His Old Trafford career has been on the rise ever since. While the 6-1 defeat by City was a collective disaster, Smalling has yet to hit the wall as an individual in Uniteds colours.
But hes prepared for that challenge should it arise.
Everybodys career is not plain sailing. I have been very much enjoying how it has gone over the last couple of years and hopefully it will stay on course, he added. But I will be ready if there is a setback and I will work hard.
When I was younger I stopped playing for a professional club after being at Millwalls Academy. I was at school and I thought the chance in the pro game might not come again. But I was always going to give it a go and keep at it and worked hard. I never gave up and the reminder of that will always help me in the future. That will be the same response if I get a setback in the professional game. I learned from that.
You cannot take anything for granted.
What do you think? Have your say.
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The European Championships begin in Warsaw on June 8 and end in Kiev on July 1.
Just 24 days later the London Olympic football tournament starts, running until August 12, with the Premier League beginning a week later.
Although the bulk of the Olympic squad have to be under 23, boss Stuart Pearce can pick three over-age players for the tournament.
The FA refuse to be locked into a policy of ruling out any player for the Olympics if they were in Englands Euro 2012 squad.
However, it seems likely that players will only be selected for one or the other.
While the debate rages on. Uniteds Chris Smalling simply would like the opportunity to make one of the major showpiece tournaments. The 21-year-old defender has broken into Fabio Capellos England squad since moving to United and, having played for Pearce at last summers Under-21 Championships, he would certainly be a contender for the Olympics.
And with the Games on the doorstep of the Greenwich-born defenders manor, it would be a career highlight.
I have to say that England is not my first target at the moment and neither are the Olympics. United is what I am thinking about, said Smalling. But towards the end of the season I will be looking towards that and hopefully I might get into the England squad. Obviously Id love to go there.
There is also the Olympics as well. A lot of the lads who went to the Under-21 Championships last summer will be able to play in it.
Whether it is the Euros, the Olympics, or both you would like to be involved b! ecause t hese opportunities do not come around too often.
Smallings immediate concern is to get over Sundays wretched derby mauling by City.
It has been a meteoric rise for the defender, from non-League football to a brief spell at Fulham before United swooped in 2010 to land the then relative unknown for a stunning 10m.
His Old Trafford career has been on the rise ever since. While the 6-1 defeat by City was a collective disaster, Smalling has yet to hit the wall as an individual in Uniteds colours.
But hes prepared for that challenge should it arise.
Everybodys career is not plain sailing. I have been very much enjoying how it has gone over the last couple of years and hopefully it will stay on course, he added. But I will be ready if there is a setback and I will work hard.
When I was younger I stopped playing for a professional club after being at Millwalls Academy. I was at school and I thought the chance in the pro game might not come again. But I was always going to give it a go and keep at it and worked hard. I never gave up and the reminder of that will always help me in the future. That will be the same response if I get a setback in the professional game. I learned from that.
You cannot take anything for granted.
What do you think? Have your say.
Tweet
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