Crouch Euro 2012 refusal has left him in England limbo, admits Hodgson
Tuesday 11 September 2012
Peter Crouch’s decision to refuse a call-up to the England stand-by list for Euro 2012 has affected his chances of making Roy Hodgson’s squad for the foreseeable future, the manager has admitted. The BBCh has reported that Hodgson will only name the Stoke City striker to the original party, rather than consider him as a replacement option in the event of injuries.
Crouch’s name was touted as a possibility for inclusion in the squad to play Moldova and Ukraine after Wayne Rooney and Andy Carroll were both struck down with injury, but Hodgson revealed that after Crouch rejected a place on the waiting list for Euro 2012, he did not see any reason to turn to the former Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur forward.
“I selected him for the Euros but he didn't want to come. He made it clear that unless he was in the squad he didn't want to be considered,” Hodgson said, adding: “As a result, we've selected squads since that time when I felt I didn't need him here. I'm not going to bring him here to fill up the bench. The day Crouch gets in the England squad is when I think he should be in the original 23.”
Crouch had previously suggested that he could form a partnership with new Stoke teammate Michael Owen for club and country, put Hodgson’s comments appear to put paid to that notion. It is now two years since Crouch appeared for England, although Hodgson maintained that the door remains open for both Crouch and Darren Bent - but only at the manager’s discretion.
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