Does Fat Sam have a Mirror
England has become a 'fat, lazy nation' and the national team will suffer as a result, according to Bolton boss Sam Allardyce.
Allardyce, interviewed for the England job last summer, believes the Government are failing to provide adequate physical education for the country's schoolchildren.
He has warned that the national side is set to suffer 'two or three generations' of failure even if the problem is tackled now.
'This is not a football problem - it's a massive problem for the country, caused by not getting the school curriculum right,' Allardyce said.
'We are becoming a fat, lazy nation and our kids are the same. We simply don't grow top sportsmen and women from a young age. Football can't be expected to develop players from six years old. It has to start in schools.
'It is about identifying high-quality young men and women and developing their talent before they are passed on to whatever sport they are going to be professionals in.
'Then we will breed a Wimbledon champion, World Cup winners, athletics champions, rugby and cricket stars.
'The current England football team is fine but there are very few England Under-21 players playing regularly in the Premiership.
'Before we can get it right, there will be two or three generations of English footballers that will not be good enough. If we don't change now, it will get worse before it gets better.'
Allardyce, interviewed for the England job last summer, believes the Government are failing to provide adequate physical education for the country's schoolchildren.
He has warned that the national side is set to suffer 'two or three generations' of failure even if the problem is tackled now.
'This is not a football problem - it's a massive problem for the country, caused by not getting the school curriculum right,' Allardyce said.
'We are becoming a fat, lazy nation and our kids are the same. We simply don't grow top sportsmen and women from a young age. Football can't be expected to develop players from six years old. It has to start in schools.
'It is about identifying high-quality young men and women and developing their talent before they are passed on to whatever sport they are going to be professionals in.
'Then we will breed a Wimbledon champion, World Cup winners, athletics champions, rugby and cricket stars.
'The current England football team is fine but there are very few England Under-21 players playing regularly in the Premiership.
'Before we can get it right, there will be two or three generations of English footballers that will not be good enough. If we don't change now, it will get worse before it gets better.'
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