Liverpool fans back Jamie Carragher's view on playing for England
JAMIE CARRAGHER has the full backing of Liverpool supporters in his view that playing for his club was more important to him than representing his country.
And even some of England's most fanatical followers have admitted that they fully understand the defender's stance.
Carragher revealed an England defeat "never hurt me in the same way as losing with my club" despite missing a penalty as England went out of the 2006 World Cup against Portugal in a shoot-out.
That was the last of his 34 caps as he then retired from international football in July last year after complaining he was constantly being overlooked as a central defender for the national team.
Carragher wrote in 'Carra, My Autobiography', serialised in the Daily Mirror: "I would rather miss for England than LFC."
He added: "Whenever I returned home from disappointing England experiences one unshakeable, overriding thought pushed itself to the forefront of my mind - no matter how much the rest of the nation mourned.
"'At least it wasn't Liverpool,' I'd repeat to myself, over and over.
"Losing felt like a disappointment rather than a calamity."
Les Lawson, of the Liverpool Supporters' Club, said: "I agree with Carra. My only thought when international breaks come around is that I hope the players come back uninjured.
"I couldn't care less about England, I'm a Liverpool supporter. We are Scouse, not English!"
Lawson also admitted Liverpool fans would show some allegiance to Spain because of the large contingent of Spaniards at Anfield.
He said: "I have watched Liverpool reserves when England are playing. In fact, if England were playing Spain, you would probably find Liverpool fans supporting Spain."
Carragher's attitude has been met with disappointment but not surprise by England supporters.
Mark Perryman, of the England Fans' Group, thinks that European Cup-winners like Carragher, who play regular Champions League football, don't reach the pinnacle of their careers on the international stage.
He said: "You do not want to hear things like that, but I do understand where someone like Carragher is coming from.
"His view is no different to many fans, particularly those who support the big clubs.
"If you asked most fans whether they would want their club to win the title or England to win the World Cup, they would back their own clubs.
"It is an attitude that has arisen as the Champions League has got bigger and bigger. I know that as an England fan these days, I am in a minority.
"The Champions League provides international quality football from September to March to players like Carragher. Success in it is crucial to the big clubs, so I understand his view."
Perryman added: "When England play Croatia next week I would think that the result would mean more to the Croatians than the England players - apart maybe from people like Jimmy Bullard and Theo Walcott, whose careers are being boosted by playing for England.
"And let's be fair, England are not likely to win the European Championship, the World Cup, Europe again and then the World Cup in successive seasons.
"But the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United and the other big clubs can be expected to be in the Champions League final or the later stages every season.
"I do not blame players for seeing their club as being more important."
Former England player Ray Wilkins has admitted the conflict between representing club and country can cause problems for coaches such as England manager Fabio Capello.
"Hopefully it will work out for England under Fabio Capello - and it certainly won't be for a lack of effort," said Wilkins.
"People keep talking about passion, well that drives me nuts because those guys are as passionate as anyone about winning games of football.
"When they go out there, they want to do the nation proud.
"When it does not work, it is not down to a lack of passion, it is down to the fact they have not performed, which are two different things."
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Im a Liverpool fan first and foremost, but at the same time i want to see England do well. If other countries can do it, then i dont see why we cant. I think there needs to be a balance between the two. Arranging stupid friendlies just one game into the league season isnt going to help anyones cause.
They should re arrange the qualifying tournaments to a specific time of the year where no domestic football is played. If they can havea world cup or euro championships in a 2 week or a month gap in the year, then im pretty sure you can have a qualifying period in the same time.
For this period only, the players are all grouped together, if one gets injured another comes in.
The only other solution is to get rid of friendlies all together and only have competitive games.