Does national pride come a distant second to domestic success?

Not so long ago, pulling on an England shirt would have taken precedence in the careers of those lucky enough to be chosen to represent their country. Nowadays, however, it may be argued that the stars of the Premier League care far more for their performances in the domestic league - representing the country has become nothing more than a distraction. The transition is quite understandable - the clubs keep the players in fast cars, the Premier League has grown exponentially in the past five years (both financially and in terms of global interest) and the pressure to perform week-in-week-out is higher than ever.

In the current climate, why would a player risk upsetting his employers by playing out of his skin and picking up an injury while on international duty? Consider the pressure Kevin Keegan currently puts on Michael Owen. If he had picked up a serious injury last night, he would instantly become Newcastle’s scapegoat in their battle with the dropzone.

And can you honestly say, for example, that you saw the same passion in Steven Gerrard during the all-important Croatia game as you see in the league every week?

So is it simply that the players are devoting more of their energies to the Premier League, or is it that the England shirt no longer holds the appeal it used to? Votes and comments below, please.