| Although many a Celtic fan claimed that Alan Thompson was of an international standard, Sven Goran Eriksson was highly reluctant to give an opportunity to the cultured left midfielder, despite a well-publicised dearth of specialist players for that role. Thompson had failed to impress previous England coaches in the role when he was at Bolton Wanderers and Aston Villa, and the belief that Scottish football was of a lower standard was seen as the reason why his form had improved so noticeably since relocating to Parkhead. Eriksson responded to the calls for at least a look at Thompson in a friendly game, and so when England travelled to Sweden at the start of 2004, a 30 year old Thompson was given a starting role in an inexperienced and experimental team. England lost 1-0, Thompson was substituted by Alan Smith and Eriksson had seen enough. He was never recalled, though he is in an exclusive club of players whose appearances for England came solely while not playing for English clubs. The left sided problem remained but Thompson was not deemed to be the solution, and few people ever called for his return. (Matthew Rudd) |