Giggs wants Team GB to go beyond London

Editors' Picks

  • Neymar announces transfer to Barcelona

    Neymar announces transfer to Barcelona

    Neymar announces transfer to Barcelona

    Brazil's Neymar announced on his Instagram account that he is to join FC Barcelona, who have edged out their great Spanish rivals Real Madrid in a tussle for the young striker's services.

  • Brazil's Neymar to sign with Barcelona on Monday

    Brazil's Neymar to sign with Barcelona on Monday

    Brazil's Neymar to sign with Barcelona on Monday

    By Pedro Fonseca RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Brazil's gifted World Cup hope Neymar is moving to Spanish champions Barcelona, the striker said on Saturday, and will sign a five-year contract on Monday. Neymar chose Barcelona over their Spanish arch-rivals Real Madrid after Santos ended three years of resisting offers for the 21-year-old forward and let him go before next year's tournament in Brazil. "On Monday I'm signing a contract with Barcelona," Neymar said on his Instagram page and Twitter

  • Robben infuriates, bemuses, misses goals and wins match

    Robben infuriates, bemuses, misses goals and wins match

    Robben infuriates, bemuses, misses goals and wins match

    By Brian Homewood LONDON (Reuters) - Arjen Robben's Champions League final was a microcosm of his career as the Bayern Munich winger perplexed opponents, left team mates waiting in vain for passes, infuriated fans and produced two match-winning moments. As usual, the Dutchman stubbornly refused to contemplate using his right foot in a man-of-the-match performance. Throughout his career with PSV Eindhoven, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Bayern and the Netherlands, Robben has been an exasperating enigma.

  • Man City down Chelsea 5-3 in friendly in NY

    Man City down Chelsea 5-3 in friendly in NY

    Man City down Chelsea 5-3 in friendly in NY

    French midfielder Samir Nasri scored twice as Manchester City defeated Chelsea 5-3 in a crowd-pleasing friendly at Major League Baseball's Yankee Stadium.

  • Sociedad out to bounce back against Madrid

    Sociedad out to bounce back against Madrid

    Sociedad out to bounce back against Madrid

    Real Sociedad will have to recover quickly from the news that their coach Philippe Montanier will leave to join Rennes at the end of the season as they face Real Madrid in a crucial match in their quest to claim the fourth and final Champions League place from La Liga.

  • Ribery and Robben combine to give Bayern victory

    Ribery and Robben combine to give Bayern victory

    Ribery and Robben combine to give Bayern victory

    By Mike Collett LONDON (Reuters) - A brilliant Franco-Dutch move involving Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben in the final minutes settled a memorable all-German Champions League final as Bayern Munich beat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 at Wembley on Saturday. Frenchman Ribery's back heel allowed Dutchman Robben to break through a gap in the Dortmund defense and dance round goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller to score the 89th minute winner. The goal sent Bayern's fans into raptures as their team became European

Ryan Giggs wants the Great Britain football team to continue beyond the London 2012 Olympic Games.

This Olympics sees a British team competing at a Games for the first time since 1960 but only after officials from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland objected on the grounds that their status as independent football nations would be compromised by such a side.

Manchester United great Giggs was named captain of the team by manager Stuart Pearce, the former England defender.

Welshman Giggs will be competing at the first major international tournament of a medal-laden career -- Wales's last appearance at a leading global football event was the 1958 World Cup.

Giggs, one of only five Welshmen, including Liverpool forward Craig Bellamy in an 18-strong squad featuring 13 Englishmen, said Monday: "I hope it is not a one off, based on what I have experienced and how much I have enjoyed it this week, I hope in future Olympics there will be more Great Britain teams.

"Both Craig and I are Welsh and proud of it, but for me it was a chance I could not turn down, of playing in the biggest sporting event in the world," the 38-year-old Giggs added.

"I am glad I have done because so far everything has gone great and hopefully that will continue.

"I have had nothing but positive feedback from the people I know, wanting me to do well.

"The different FAs may have opposed it, but people who I have met face to face have been nothing but positive.

"I am not a politician, but from what I have experienced, I just hope fellow British footballers can experience what I have."

Liverpool forward Bellamy -- one of Pearce's three overage picks, which did not include former England captain David Beckham -- endorsed Giggs's comments by saying: "It has been immense. The week away could not have gone any better, all the boys have really got on.

"I never thought this was going to happen, for me to be involved in anything like this. I just want to embrace this and enjoy every moment. This is something I am going to cherish for the rest of my life."

Meanwhile former Manchester City manager Pearce was in confident mood ahead of Friday's friendly with gold medal favourites Brazil in Middlesbrough, north-east England.

"As a group we have gelled fantastically well, I am really pleased with the way they have come together, which has been quicker than I thought," said Pearce. "The venue in Spain was ideal and we are delighted with the week we had.

"I set teams up to try to win the tournament with the best players I have available.

"A partial success as well would be all of these players going back to their clubs saying what a fantastic experience they had."

Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge has now joined up with the squad after a spell in hospital with viral meningitis.

The 22-year-old will be assessed as the squad head north to prepare for the Brazil game.

"There was certainly doubts because of the illness he had," said Pearce.

"Our fitness and conditioning people are having a look at him, to see how he will come through training.

"Chelsea's medical people are more than happy, but I have got to be 100 percent sure in my mind that Daniel is fit enough and can see out a tournament."

Fantasy Football

Most Popular Stories