Richardson place in jeopardy over tunnel vision

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Richardson has a reputation for arrogance at his club Manchester United and appeared to storm off down the tunnel after being replaced by Wayne Routledge early in the second half of England's opening 0-0 draw in Arnhem on Monday.

Scroll down to read more:

Missing out: Richardson lets off the Czechs

Pearce is considering leaving Richardson out as his team prepare for a make-or-break meeting with the much-fancied Italians tomorrow night.

Richardson failed to have much impact on Monday's game and was taken off shortly after giving the ball away in an incident that directly led to the Czech team missing their best chance of the game.

Pearce denied that Richardson had shown any disrespect after being substituted, a claim backed up by Richardson himself yesterday.

The manager suggested that the 22-year-old had merely been following instructions to begin his warm-down in the dressing room but could not explain why James Milner sat and watched the game from the bench after being taken off moments later.

Richardson said: "I wouldn't disrespect the manager like that. I went straight in to get treatment and get that out of the way.

"I'm struggling at the moment with my back but I've got a couple of days of rest and hopefully I'll be all right for the Italy game.

"You want to play well all the time and sometimes when it doesn't happen you are upset.

"You want to start on a high but some lads didn't perform on Monday.

"But you have to get through it and stick together as a team.

"I'm sure we'll get there in the end and qualify because we have great ability in this team."

Storm warning: Richardson is off down the tunnel

England need to beat Italy tomorrow to have a realistic chance of progressing to the semifinals from Group B when they meet Serbia in their final group game on Sunday.

A defeat to the Italians, who surprisingly lost 1-0 to Serbia on Monday, would leave Pearce's team struggling to reach the last four.

Failure would provide a sad repeat of the past two occasions on which they qualified, in 2000 and 2002, when England failed to progress past the group stages.