http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/South-Africa-c757 is finally over, after he got selected for the national squad for the upcoming Euro 2012 competition.
England’s newly appointed manager Roy Hodgson, announced the 23-man squad on Wednesday for the European Championship. The tournament will kick off from the 8th of June, co-hosted by http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ukraine-c3032.
The 27-year old was overlooked by former England manager http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Fabio-c13152 Capello 2 years ago for the World Cup squad in 2010. The English newspapers, at that time, had cited the reason of his exclusion to be the full-back’s problem of homesickness. The Aston Villa
defender http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Stephen-Warnock-c34158 was given preference over the Evertonian player instead, who failed to make a single appearance for the Three Lions during the course of the tournament. England eventually crashed out of the cup in the round of 16, after losing out
4-1 to rivals http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Germany-c2904.
Nevertheless, Baines rubbished the reports that his reluctance to play away from home resulted in his omission from the squad, and revealed that he spent three weeks in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Australia-c746 at the time when England were competing in the biggest footballing event.
He told the club’s official website, “But, as I say, if [homesickness] was ever an issue, I wouldn't have been away with the Club that long.”
Anyhow, Baines indicated that he had put the world cup disappointment behind him, and had set his focus on doing well in the Euro championship next month.
The Evertonian capped his last international appearance for England in February, in a 3-2 defeat against Holland. In total, he has represented the Three Lions in 6 matches. He will join the squad next week ahead of England’s friendly match against http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Norway-c2974
on 26th of May.
Baines said, “Getting that good preparation, a couple of friendlies, some good training and getting what's necessary out of the next couple of weeks is what's important now.”
The English International was also in awe for the national manager Hodgson. He believed that the 64-year old is one of the most respected figures in English football.
He continued, “Everything you hear, everyone in football has only got good things to say about Roy Hodgson. Our manager [http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Phil-Jagielka-c29902 and said what a really good manager he is.”
He went on to say that it was important for the players to maintain their fitness ahead of the eagerly awaited tournament, and insisted that they will give it their all in a bid to end England’s drought of major cup wins.
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