Looks like we could be missing a fair amount of our players this preseason due to the Olympics. So far it looks like the absentees will be Luiz, Mata, and Sturridge. There is a good chance possible signing Hulk will be going along with Luiz, and if someone like Beckham or Giggs is unable to play for GB due to injury, Lampard (if healthy) could take their spot due to his Euro omission. And since this is a youth tourney, Bertrand, Josh, Davila, and Romeu could all be called upon as well.

Pretty sure we can't really do much about losing our players. How long do the Olympics go until? Will we be without some of our starters for the Community Shield game, or even the first week of the season?

Will Mata get to play even though he represents Spain at Euro 2012? Perhaps it's only some countries that has the rules that if you play in this tournament, you can't play at the olympics as well.

Mata will play Moos, and he is allowed :p

Chelsea have given the permission already as well I believe.

Edited June 19, 201214 yr by Andreas

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/football/9340931/London-2012-Olympics-Spanish-midfielder-Juan-Mata-given-permission-to-fulfil-Games-dream-by-Chelsea.html

He's not really getting much of a run out right now, so I guess that's why we are giving him the go ahead.

Does that mean he misses the start of the season?

Just checked, final is 9th August. Bit close for my liking. Would prefer we took utd's hard stance tbh

http://www.chelseafc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10268~2822566,00.html

Confirmed that Luiz is in Brazil's squad, and will therefore be absent from the USA preseason tour.

Sad to not see Luiz in the pre-season matches, but wcyd. They are players, and not dogs, so if they want to represent their country, we should let them. If anything, they could be more motivated when they come back, and would've been frustrated to watch their friends play on TV.

Luiz is already well adapted to both Cahill and Terry, so I'm not worried about him. I think it's "worse" that Mata will be missing from the pre-season, since he probably will team up with three "new" players (Torres, Hazard, new right wing). I just hope Luiz' hamstring has healed properly until then!

Oh damn, I was excited at the opportunity to see Luiz play more matches, then realised he'll be missing from our own pre-season friendlys. ;_;

When do they start btw? Need to get Chelsea TV ready

i think the first match is the 18th July. If i was you i would get it a few days before that because they usually do interviews and show the players in training before the matches.

Poor David Beckham, the 3 overage players that Pearce are taking for Team GB seem to be Giggs, Bellamy, and Micah Richards. Glad that Frank's not being called up for this.

Strongly rumoured that Sturridge will be leading the line for Team GB.

Micah Richards, seems like a waste of a spot tbh.

Seems like Bertrand has been included - I think this is great news

Seems like Bertrand has been included - I think this is great news

Has h, fantastic for the fella. What a few months he has had, gone from being on the outer of the squad with little chance of playing to starting in a Champions league final which we won and in the GB squad for the Olympics. And fully deserved.

I think this is good news as well, the more recognition he gets for his good performances, the happier he will be at Chelsea.

Edited June 29, 201214 yr by 2211

The whole Beckham thing shows just what an arrogant prick Pearce has become, I used to think he was great as a player, but as a manager and coach he is far to interested in himself!

Bertrand, Sturridge, AND JOSH all made the squad!

All three will now miss out on the preseason tour, but should be good experience for the boys.

When does it start, how many matches will a team play, how many teams are there? And, will all the matches be on TV?

Well done to Ryan Bertrand and Daniel Sturridge for getting in the Team GB squad. Joined by now departed youth products Scott Sinclair and Jack Cork.

Bertrand, Sturridge, AND JOSH all made the squad!

All three will now miss out on the preseason tour, but should be good experience for the boys.

It seems as if I jumped the gun, as Josh was note included. After the season he had, it's not really surprising, plus he'd still be competing with Joe Allen for playing time. Looks like Josh will be coming to the US after all, which is fine by me.

Great Britain men's football squad for London 2012: Jack Butland (Birmingham), Jason Steele (Middlesbrough); Ryan Bertrand (Chelsea), Steven Caulker (Tottenham), Craig Dawson (West Brom), Micah Richards (Manchester City), Neil Taylor (Swansea), James Tomkins (West Ham); Joe Allen (Swansea), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Jack Cork (Southampton), Ryan Giggs (Manchester United), Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal), Danny Rose (Tottenham), Scott Sinclair (Swansea); Craig Bellamy (Liverpool), Marvin Sordell (Bolton), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea).

As for how long this tournament goes, as I stated in another thread, GB have Senegal and Uruguay in their group, which could mean facing Ba, Cisse, Suarez, Forlan, and Cavani (all are rumoured to be going). The host nation might not last very long.

Edited July 2, 201214 yr by ace

No Scottish players, shame but not surprising

David Luiz is not going! Good news for us, especially those going to the games in the US as you would assume he will be on the trip now.

but we'll not see Mata. Wonder who we will see...Hazard, Marin and a few others. I managed to See Hutch play last time, and Sheva and Pizzarro so quite the mix

I thought it was already decided that Luiz would be going. Very surprised he wasn't picked.

In a way I feel sorry for him since he probably would like to have played, but on the other hand, it will be nice to have him in pre season.