World Cup qual. - Burley slams traitor Boyd

Eurosport - Mon, 13 Oct 18:31:00 2008

Scotland manager George Burley insists he only needs players who will "fight for the cause" after Kris Boyd quit the international scene.

2008 Scotland George Burley - 0

The Rangers striker said he would no longer play for Burley after spending the entirety of the goalless World Cup qualifier against Norway on Saturday on the bench.

Burley questioned how much Boyd cared for his country.

"Kris is disappointed not to play but this is your country you're talking about," Burley said.

"I've never had a cross word with Kris. They come in, stay at five-star hotels, in this day and age they have massive wages.

"How much do you care? You don't need to like everybody. This is your country.

"Okay, he didn't get on but the only way Kris Boyd is going to get in the team is playing regularly, showing what he can do, coming into the squad and looking lively and bright - and better than the other strikers. That's how you get in the team.

"You have got to show that passion and if you don't want to show it, you make that decision that you want to step out, fine.

"We have big games coming up, people might think we are out of it but we're not, we are in second position.

"We need people wanting to fight for the cause, go to war for the country. Roll your sleeves up and go for it."

Burley brought on strikers Chris Iwelumo and Steven Fletcher, who had one cap between them, early in the second half of the Hampden clash against Norway.

Iwelumo went on to miss an open goal from three yards as Boyd, with seven goals from his 15 caps, sat on the bench contemplating his international future.

The draw left Scotland with four points from three games but Burley stood by his decision.

"The combination I sent on in the second half on Saturday worked very well," he added.

Burley said on Saturday evening that Boyd had to prove himself at Rangers, where he is not an automatic first choice despite being the club's top scorer for the past three seasons.

Boyd, who has played a total of 28 minutes under Burley in two of the manager's six games in charge, claimed it was pointless turning up.

The 25-year-old said earlier: "It's nothing personal between him and me. It is purely down to football reasons.

"I'm obviously not in his plans, so there is no point in my being there."

Boyd's Ibrox team-mate Lee McCulloch, 30, who had not featured under Burley, last month announced his international retirement.

Sporting Life / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 9 of 69

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  1. scotland are @#$% what diffrence does it make?

    From YOSEF, on Mon 13 Oct 3:27PM

  2. boyd is a decent striker better then a nobody like­ lwelumo who plays for a championship club like wolves.­ at least boyd can play in europeseason in and out­ unlike wolves

    From david &sandra G, on Mon 13 Oct 3:25PM

  3. Boyd has done what the other blue nose did Duncan­ (Drunken Disorderly) Ferguson, turned his back on his­ country. I just hope future managers remember his­ disloyalty. We dont need players with a childish­ attitude. Good riddance.

    From afbk1701, on Mon 13 Oct 3:17PM

  4. Oh Dear Mr Burley...having romped to a narrow victory­ over Iceland as pinnacle of your Scotland Managerial­ career you have the audacity to criticise the most­ prolific Scottish Striker in recent years. You should­ be man enough to say "I got it wrong, I screwed up­ and I have probably banished Scotland to Spectator­ status for yet another tournament. To blame Boydie is­ shameful. Hope to see him back soon...good thing is I­ am sure I will...

    From john.kennedy1873, on Mon 13 Oct 3:15PM

  5. Who gives a @#$% about Scotland anyway, they are not­ going to qualify!! and i'm a fan.

    From tom, on Mon 13 Oct 3:11PM

  6. typical jocks,why blame burley?maybe the team should­ give 100%,or maybe its because the scottish premier­ league is so slow it should be named coca-cola­ championship division 2

    From stephen, on Mon 13 Oct 3:11PM

  7. lets face it burley has managed to ruin every club he­ gets involved with .
    so it's no surprise at what­ has happened in the scottish camp
    all i can say is­ both him and the sfa should resign before they turn us­ into a third rate team and destroy all the good work­ done by walter and ally !

    From jc297, on Mon 13 Oct 3:08PM

  8. if you don't like Boyd then play with Iwelumo ,I­ think I would scored that,miss of the century

    From dorinb, on Mon 13 Oct 2:30PM

  9. How the f*ck Boyd should fight for his chance when he­ is all the time a reserve?

    From dorinb, on Mon 13 Oct 2:27PM
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