WAGs will not ruin Euro 2012, claims former Manchester United and England hero Gary Neville
Manchester United hero and England coach Gary Neville is confident there will not be a repeat of the WAGs distraction which marred the German World Cup.
The former international was part of the 2006 squad which suffered from disruptions as their wives and girlfriends attracted heavy media attention.
And concerns over racism and logistical difficulties have resulted in some families choosing not to travel with the players.
"That won't happen again," Neville said. "The FA learned from the experience in 2006. The England team did. The England players did.”
He added: "That wasn't ideal for anybody.
"It was symptomatic of the times. Between 2002 and 2007 everyone got carried away with everything in life.
"It is a different world now and those mistakes won't happen again under any manager or any regime. The platform won't be given.
"We are managing it this time in a completely different way. We are here to play football. We are here to work."
England's response to dramas in Germany in the South Africa 2010 World Cup was to isolate their players in Rustenburg.
But that failed to bring the trophy home as boredom became a problem for the team.
England will embark on their competition on June 6 and will settle in a city centre with approximately 750,000 residents.
And Neville claimed this is the best way to replicate the normal day-to-day experiences of the England squad, and get the best out of them.
"Players would not pen themselves into a countryside location between a Saturday and Tuesday game for their clubs," he said.
"That is the big message, to have players doing what they would normally do.
"You can never replicate the home environment but in terms of being free to go for a coffee or to the shops – we should embrace it, even though it has never been done before."
The former England right back won 85 caps and went to five major tournaments as a player but Roy Hodgson has selected the 37-year-old to join them as a member of the coaching staff – despite having relatively little experience.
Hodgson was attracted to the Sky Sports pundit through his sharp observations over the last season, in which he made many critical comments about many players of the England squad.
"I don't think the players are too fragile," said Neville.
"Yes, at some point I will have highlighted a mistake from every player in this squad, or praised them.
"But football players are very honest.
"If someone makes a mistake in a big game millions around the world will have seen it, plus their own coaches, own fans, family, themselves.
Advertisement
"The last thing they will be worried about is me sat in a little glass box saying something.
"A lot more questions were being asked about me and my role at Sky 12 months ago.
"I had been at United for 20 years and I was still an ambassador. How was I ever going to talk openly and honestly about Manchester United's players and their opponents?
"I would like to think I have proved I am impartial and can speak openly.
"As long as you are fair and honest across the board I don't think anyone has a problem, although the real proof will come next season.
"That is when I have to prove I can handle both of these roles.
"But I am not worried about it at all."
For more on this story and many others, follow Mancunian Matters on Twitter and Facebook.
Post new comment