‘Is it that bad?’ – Roy Keane argues with Gary Neville and Wayne Rooney as Man Utd legend opens up on England snub
ROY KEANE has disagreed with Gary Neville and Wayne Rooney over Glenn Hoddle’s treatment of Andy Cole.
The former Manchester United striker, 52, joined Keane, Neville and Rooney – as well as fellow regulars Ian Wright and Jill Scott – on this week’s Stick to Football podcast.
During their chat, the group discussed Cole’s lack of England opportunities.
Despite being a prolific goalscorer for Newcastle and Man Utd, Cole earned just 15 Three Lions caps.
During his time as England boss, Hoddle infamously claimed that Cole needed five chances to score.
The prolific forward was furious at the time, calling the Three Lions manager a “coward” after he was left out of the 1998 World Cup squad.
Reminiscing over the exchange on Stick to Football in association with Sky Bet, Cole explained: “It was disrespectful, because I’m playing for Manchester United, and Man United were playing Champions League football.
“The teams they were playing were better than who England were playing in qualifiers – but I’m scoring in Champions League games.”
England’s former all-time leading goalscorer Rooney, 38, admitted: “I would have gone crazy.”
Keane, on the other hand, had a different view.
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The Irishman, 52, countered: “Was it that bad, lads? It’s not a thumbs up for what he said, but…”
He then added: “I can see why he’s upset, but when people start going really bad, most strikers need a few chances – no strikers score at every chance.”
Neville was on Rooney’s side and thought it had been poor form from Hoddle.
The former full-back said: “Two things: he [Cole] is not his [Hoddle’s] player, and the second thing is, to be fair, you don’t say that public about anybody.”
Cole earned 15 England caps in total, scoring once – in a World Cup qualifier against Albania under Sven-Goran Eriksson in 2001.
He won five Premier League titles with Man Utd, in addition to a pair of FA Cups and the Champions League in 1999, which capped off an incredible treble.
The prolific ace bagged 187 Prem goals in total, putting him fourth on the all-time leaderboard – only behind Alan Shearer, Harry Kane and Rooney.
Cole went on to get one over on Hoddle after moving to Blackburn.
In the 2002 League Cup final, Rovers took on Hoddle’s Tottenham at the Millennium Stadium, with Cole going on to score the winner in a 2-1 win.
At the time, the striker admitted: “To have beaten one of Hoddle’s teams makes this feel really good.
“I am too old to hold grudges but I was not happy with the way he went about things.
“The fact that he made those criticisms to the press before telling the players, and that’s his style.”
