Football fever is with us once again and the nation holds its breath as the England team try yet again to recapture the spirit of ’66. For once the expectations are toned down and even the jingoistic tabloids are not holding out that much hope of success. There seems to be a softly softly approach to Euro 2012 by the England team and a feeling that, whilst we may not be in the same league as say Spain or Germany (and about a half a dozen others!), we may just creep up on the outside, get lucky and snaffle the trophy as did the unfancied Danes in 1992 and the Greeks in 2004. Maybe.

There always has to be some controversy over team selection whether it be pinning our hopes on  injured players such as David Beckham a few years back or, as now, leaving out experienced older players who may or may not be up to the rigours of what will undoubtedly be a vigorously contested tournament. The controversy this time is over the exclusion of Manchester United’s Rio Ferdinand who the team manager, Roy Hodgson, has overlooked in favour of a young inexperienced defender, Martin Kelly of Liverpool. That is the manager’s prerogative and it is surely his decision who plays in his team.

Not so according to certain tabloids and indeed by people in Ferdinand’s camp. His agent called his omission “disgraceful” and “a lack of respect” and Ferdinand is evidently fuming, but so what, the manager’s decision is final and the dog wags the tail, not the other way round. Better for Ferdinand and all around him to accept the decision with grace and respect, a word you will find that is much used and abused in football circles these days.

Another player, Micah Richards of Manchester City, refused to be placed on the standby list so upset was he by his omission from the original squad. He evidently took offence because he was notified of his non-selection by Hodgson’s assistant, Stuart Pearce, rather than by Hodgson himself. Pearce incidentally has over 70 England caps to his name, is the coach of England Under 21s and the coach of the 2012 Great Britain Olympic Football squad so is hardly a mere skivvy. Who on earth do these players think they are? Why should the manager speak personally to every player who thinks he deserves a chance of selection? It is an honour and not a God-given right to be chosen to play for your country at any sport and thousands would give anything to be selected for an England squad.

Roy Hodgson has a reputation for building teams out of meagre resources (just as well in England’s case!) and it is the team that matters, not individuals. Clearly, it may prove difficult getting that message across to some of the overpaid and overated prima donnas who ply their trade in the English Premier League.