Pulis demands rethink on friendly internationals

Stoke manager Tony Pulis believes there would be a marked reduction in the number of international friendlies if national associations were required to pay the wages of players.

Controversy arose out of England’s 2-1 defeat to France last night when Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, who was expected to play for only an hour, was kept on for 85 minutes before eventually coming off with a hamstring injury.