England News

• Nickname:Three Lions
• Founded: 1872
• Manager:Roy Hodgson

• Ground:Wembley Stadium
• Capacity:90,000

Scholes not tempted back

01 Oct 2006 - 12:36:24

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England manager Steve McClaren has confirmed that he has tried on several occasions to talk Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes out of international retirement.

The 31-year-old scored 14 times in 65 appearances for England before bowing out after the Euro 2004 finals, but McClaren was eager to bring Scholes back into the fold to help out.

He told BBC Radio Five Live's Sportsweek: "I asked Paul if he would like to return, it was one of the first things I did before I named my first full squad.

"I asked him in the summer if he would reconsider and come back into the fold. He declined and then declined again when I asked him last week.

"He just wants to concentrate on playing for Manchester United and his family, which were the reasons for his decision when he retired from international football last time.

"I respected those decisions when he retired from international football and I don't expect to be asking him again.

"But the door is always open and I would never close it on Paul Scholes."