Arsenal legend Ray Parlour has revealed that he wished extra England caps than the ten he managed throughout his profitable profession, although he nonetheless loved himself completely with the nationwide crew.
Regardless of being an everyday starter for Arsenal , the most effective groups within the Premier League throughout his peak years, England managers typically missed Parlour in favour of extra thrilling choices.
A falling out with Glenn Hoddle definitely did not assist – Parlour had picked up the Arsenal Participant of the Season award in 1997/98, once they gained the league and FA Cup double, however he did not make the England squad for the World Cup in France that summer season.
Arsenal legend Ray Parlour wished extra England caps
Parlour shone for Arsenal for a lot of seasons however was typically missed at worldwide stage (Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
Regardless, Parlour nonetheless has fond recollections when reflecting on his profession with the Three Lions, whereas recognising the standard of gamers he needed to compete with, too.
“Enjoying for my nation was my proudest second,” Parlour completely tells FourFourTwo . “In all probability the one remorse I’ll all the time have is that I want I’d bought extra caps, however Alan Shearer was the most effective gamers ever to play for England and he solely bought one Premier League medal, so I can’t complain – I bought extra medals enjoying for my membership.
Parlour enjoying in opposition to Brazil in 2000 (Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
“I fell out a bit with Glenn Hoddle at the beginning over Eileen Drewery, however Kevin Keegan got here in and he was a very totally different supervisor – excellent with the gamers. Sven had nice midfielders coming by means of in Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard, and Paul Scholes was nonetheless within the crew and he was youthful than me, so it was all the time exhausting to get into the crew – and also you had David Beckham , who bought 115 caps. If I used to be enjoying proper midfield, I had no likelihood of enjoying in entrance of him!”
As a substitute, Parlour solely managed 10 appearances for England throughout his profession, all of which got here in 1999 and 2000 below Kevin Keegan. He did not get to have fun a aim for his nation, both, with a long-range effort that hit the crossbar and crossed the road incorrectly not awarded throughout a 0-0 draw with Finland in October 2000.
Regardless of that, Parlour nonetheless appears to be like again on fondness on the recollections he has away from the pitch – together with Shearer’s generosity when it got here to playing cards.
“If I’d performed for Eire or Scotland , I might most likely have gotten 100 caps, however I actually loved enjoying for England,” Parlour admits, “and we gained a great deal of cash enjoying playing cards!
Parlour loved enjoying playing cards with Shearer (Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
“I performed with Teddy Sheringham, Dennis Sensible and Jamie Redknapp. Teddy was exhausting to beat – he was a poker participant – and Dennis was good, too. There have been a few dangerous gamers as effectively, although, and you possibly can nick all their cash off them!
“Michael Owen wasn’t the perfect. Alan Shearer was like Father Christmas! It was all good enjoyable.”
