Pearce and Hodgson Lined Up For London 2012 Team GB Roles

As the excitement continues to build across the world for the 2012 Olympics in London there is increasing speculation in the English sporting press regarding the olympic soccer tournament set to be held at Wembley stadium. My English Football Banter Blog earlier revealed how the Great British Team would be entering their first team for many years (although it is set to comprise of only English players) and there has been more recent speculation amongst the football hacks as to who will manage the British young guns at the London Games. As current England under 21 manager, Stuart Pearce has an excellent claim for the position - having led the side to the final of the under 21 European Cup recently. However, some sources suggest that Fulham boss Roy Hodgson may also be in the picture to lead team GB. The experienced gaffer has done a great job at Fulham turning them from relegation candidates to outsiders for European contention and has an excellent international pedigree. In any the case, whoever leads out the British team at the 2012 olympic soccer it is surely certain to be a great showcase of young footballing talent from around the world.

Fifa Confirms All English UK Football Team for 2012 Olympics

World football's governing body FIFA has now given the green light for Great Britain to put out an all English line up for their football team in the London 2012 Olympic games. The decision to allow the host nation for the games to include a British football team in world sport's centrepiece had previously courted a great deal of controversy amongst the home nations, as the governing bodies of Nothern Ireland, Scotland and Wales had all voiced understandable concerns that the move would compromise their independent status for other international football competitions - a sentiment seemingly put forward by FIFA president Sepp Blatter. However, a deal has now been brokered between the home nations and FIFA to allow the UK to put out an international Olympic team for the first time since 1972 - allbeit an all English one. The English players are now set to perform under the flag of Great Britain on a one off basis without compromise to any of the home nations international status, with the team expected to be compromised of home grown players all aged under 21.