Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Zinedine Zidane, England, Real Madrid
Josh Lawless
Zinedine Zidane was stunned after a "leading player" was left out of the England squad and warned that that Three Lions would "regret" the decision.
The 1998 Ballon d'Or winner has been very vocal about his admiration for England players over the years, having been teammates with David Beckham at Real Madrid.
He has also raved about the likes of Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Paul Scholes but made his feelings clear on another one of his former colleagues being overlooked by his country.
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Steve McManaman won two Champions Leagues alongside Zidane at Real, becoming the first English player to do it twice and scoring in the first final against Valencia.
He joined Los Blancos on a historic free transfer from Liverpool in 1999 and continued to be picked for the national team.
However, his last cap came in 2001 and Zidane was in disbelief over McManaman being omitted from the squad back in 2002, highlighting the quality he saw on a regular basis at club level.
"I was surprised when McManaman was left out of the last England squad. I couldn't believe they would ignore a player of his quality," Zidane said in 2002, as per Sky Sports.
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"Now people are talking about the fact that maybe he will get his chance because David Beckham is injured.
"But McManaman is far better than just being a replacement for Beckham. McManaman should be in the starting line-up anyway.
"Picking him now would be a very smart move for Eriksson because McManaman is in the mood to start proving people wrong. If Eriksson gave him the chance he deserves, he could prove to all the people and to Eriksson he should have been there all along.
"I don't think he has really ever had a proper chance under Eriksson but he has proved over the years, for Liverpool, England and Real Madrid, that he is a leading player.
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"If England do not pick him, it would be a terrible waste, both for the side and for McManaman. If they don't take him to the World Cup, they'll regret it."
Despite Zidane lobbying for McManaman to be included by the late Sven-Goran Eriksson, he was not selected - despite coming off the bench in the World Cup qualifier against Greece.
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He received a message from Eriksson on his mobile phone and reacted to his snub, telling BBC 5 Live: "A lot of the reasons that are bandied about are ridiculous.
"I was involved in the last qualifying game against Greece and everyone was happy. People make their own assumptions but it's very confusing.
"When it was announced I wasn't picked I wasn't cross as I was half expecting it."
McManaman was capped 37 times for England, scoring three goals.