FA should pay England players' wages for international friendlies, blasts Stoke's Tony Pulis

Stoke manager Tony Pulis believes there would be a marked reduction in the number of international friendlies if national associations were required to pay the wages of players. Controversy arose out of England's 2-1 defeat to France last night when Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, who was expected to play for only an hour, was kept on for 85 minutes before eventually coming off with a hamstring injury. Club v country: Liverpool are furious with the FA over Steven Gerrard's hamstring injury, sustained while on duty for England against FranceOutspoken: Tony PulisPulis feels if national teams had to pay for their players' services -and aftercare when they were injured - then it would have a dramaticeffect on the international calendar.'For full-blooded international games, proper games when they are qualifying for a major tournament, then there is no problem with sending the players away,' he said. 'There is nothing better than playing for your country but that is in proper games not friendly matches and I think it has shown again last night with the team Capello played. 'He has played a lot of young players and given people a chance but they are like pre-season games. 'If they want to do friendly matches then they should pay the wages and if they come back injured they should look after all of that. 'I think that would see friendly games dramatically subside.'What did they get at Wembley last night, 85,000? That is helping to pay for the stadium as much as anything else in my opinion.' You disgrace! Liverpool attack Capello after Gerrard injured in England flopEngland 1 France 2: Capello's youngsters fail French test as kids are outclassedWembley match zone: The lessons Fabio learned from French testMartin Samuel: France turn on the style while Fabio turns back the clock  Explore more:People: Tony Pulis, Steven Gerrard Places: Liverpool, United Kingdom, France

Source: Daily_Mail