Alan Shearer: Danny Drinkwater has the wrong attitude and should not play for England again
SunSport columnist says the Chelsea midfielder has the wrong attitude - and should have been itching to get more action
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I CANNOT question players withdrawing from international duty claiming they are injured.
I wonder sometimes if it were the World Cup final whether those pulls and twinges would heal quicker? But there you go.
The one thing I do question is a player apparently refusing a call-up because he claims he has not played enough football.
Danny Drinkwater, what were you thinking? If you have not played enough football, take the opportunity to play some!
Going forward he is not the sort of person I would want in my squad. Given that attitude he shouldn’t be picked again.
It is England v Germany at Wembley for crying out loud.
Most players in my era would have given anything for that opportunity . . . yes, even to be on the bench.
For some time the big question mark with England is whether the players really want to play for the Three Lions enough?
Is their club more important and international football just a diversion?
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I have said many times in this column how pulling on an England shirt appears to be a burden for some when it should be the opposite.
It should lift you up, make you proud, push you to another level.
Those are the sort of players we need, not the ones crushed by the expectation.
I cannot point a finger at those called up on Friday night as they stepped up to the mark.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek being the best example.
What has to happen if these players fill in and do well, is that they get rewarded by being picked again, no matter who is available. Only then will players start running through brick walls for England, like they do for their clubs.
There was certainly a freedom and vibrancy about Loftus-Cheek’s play that suggested playing for England was a real joy.
Hopefully we see that again tomorrow with another prestige friendly against Brazil.
It is always a mistake to get carried away with anything surrounding England given the last few decades of under achievement.
Yet there is certainly a lot to be positive about right now.
I have chosen a team for the opening game in Russia but the fact it is open for debate tells you we have options.
My choice of Harry Kane and Dele Alli up front is one that will test any defence — if Kane is not taking corners!
Harry Winks in midfield has come to the fore in recent months and deserves his chance.
I also like the three at the back and the way wing-backs Danny Rose and Kyle Walker seem very comfortable in switching from defence to attack.
Kieran Trippier also showed there is competition for a place on the right as well.
So gradually under Gareth Southgate I can see progression.
Are we going to win the World Cup this summer? No.
But a team that aims to, gives it a go and makes the country proud will certainly be a step in the right direction.
Heading for trouble
I HOPE those who saw my documentary on the correlation between heading a football and dementia found it interesting.
It certainly opened my eyes to the inherent dangers and I was glad my own scan showed no damage from heading a ball.
But I have been stunned by the number of ex-players who have contacted me in recent days saying that they are suffering as a result of playing the game.
Do we ban heading? I am not saying that — but players should be aware of the dangers and if there is potential for long-term damage to their health.
If there is, then at least they can make an educated choice.
The wrong option is to bury your head in the sand — and those who run our game have been doing that for far too long.
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