Should there be one? and if so who should be in it? my theory is that it should happen and be made up of just english players. the scots and welsh did not qualify for the last olympics whereas england did, and therefore to stop ppl saying that the small countries shouldnt have there teams, everybody wins

How can you call it GB then? If the powers that be share your thoughts, they will get murdered in the media and by fans.


Can you explain the we didn't qualify bit please? Welsh athletes won more medals than they ever have in the Bejing Olympics. And you don't get Wales, Scotland and England And N.Ireland. It's Great Britain and N.Ireland

Edited at 12:44 Sat 15/11/08 (GMT)

Stops it being a GB olympic team.



Since when did the individual nations that make up Great Britain ever attempt to qualify or the Olympics? And that system would never work as it doesn't take groups into account. For example I'm guessing you meant European Champs for instance, England were in a group of relatively small nations in terms of world football, England, Russia and Croatia fighting it out none of which are in any danger of winning a major tournament and England struggled to qualify. Scotland however were in a group that included the World Cup Winners and the World Cup finalists and was very close to qualifying.

i dont see how the fans could object, y should countries be represented at a tourny they didnt qualify for, it should be england in all but the name

Did they qualify? I'm sure they didn't.

I'm walking away....this is painful but one shall not rise to it.........I'm gone.

If your going to talk about something I suggest you read up on what your going to talk about!

The whole Olympic team are BRITISH! This includes all the home nations.

What major tournement did England qualified for in footy? Ow wait - NOWT!

We go their as a British team, we win as a British team. I'm sure the majority of the contestants who compete enjoy doing it for Britain, as a team!

You'll note the biggest hero of the Olympics for Britain (in my opinion) was a certain Scotsman whom won 3 gold medals. Goes by the name of Chris Hoy. You heard of him??

Hahaha blows my post away, England didn't qualify for Euro Champs!! Oops.

Neither did they qualify for anything Olympic either though.

the qualification for the olympics was the 2007 under21 european championship, the qualifying teams were the semi finalists, one of which was england, however as they dont enter the olympics italy had a play off with portugal for their spot.
this isnt petty anti celtic sentiment, the english team did earn the right to represent england, and if they do the same in 2011 they should be our representitives, if not then it should be a full british team

Well it should just start of as a full British team. I don't see why they do the current system like this - I'd never heard of it myself!

Why was it under 21 when age has no real ramifications with people competing at the Olympics? I don't see how this would be a fair Olympic system..........

the olympics is under 23s with 3 overage players

Why let England, Scotland, Wales and NI in the qualifiers if they are ineligible for the main Olympics?

My thinking exactly.........

That rule is only for Footy. Rules vary on other events, so long as there is no health and safety risk most are allowed to compete.

because its a tournament in its own right, it just happens to be the most convenient to use as qualifying

They should ban Footy and stick Rugby 7s in instead!

Think you've accidentaly stumbled on a good point. British and Irish Lions tours work in rugby union, why is football so against it? If it worked that the british team was only used for the Olympics then I don't see a problem.

Am I missing the point? A GB football team would qualify automatically anyway as London is hosting the Olympics (host nation teams qualify automatically for all events as far as I am aware - Water Polo, Hockey whatever).

I doubt whether in 4 years time the 11 best GB players will all be English as indeed they arguably arent now. I can easily see the likes of Gareth Bale being the best left back, Aaron Ramsey possibly being in left midfield maybe even a natural goalscorer like Kris Boyd up front.

The point is that a GB team should encompass, and be supportable by fans of, all of the four home nations.

David Healy

I think fagin was talking about the Olympics just passed chris.

And when you say emcompass support from all four nations it worries me. Some of the Scotland support struggle to get behind Barry Ferguson never mind supporting a team with Wayne Rooney in it.

Edited at 14:53 Sat 15/11/08 (GMT)

I know Colin but he said 'should the same happen happen in 2011'

Well whether England, Scotland, Wales or N Ireland were in the top 4 in that 2011 Euro U21 Championship would be irrelevant as Team GB has already qualified for the Olympics.

You will always get people that dont get behind their own - look at the cases of frank lampard, ashley cole or going further back john barnes. Nothing you can do about a minority in anything unfortunately.

my thoughts about 2011 wasnt what will happen, more wat should happen,if we do have an olympic team and we do qualify in 2016, im not sure many scottish players would be happy at being at a tournament because of englands sucess