The olympics site says simply that: "The UEFA U-21 Championship 2007 served as the olympic qualifying competition. Netherlands, the tournament hosts and holders, retained the trophy to lead a quartet that also included beaten finalists Serbia and Belgium. With the other semi-finalists, England, ineligible to compete in the Olympics, a play-off between Italy and Portugal on 21 June provided the Azzurrini with the fourth and final qualiying slot."

Logically I think this has something to do with us being part of the U.K. and competing as great britain, but then again, arent the England women competing in china this summer?

Anyway, if you cant tell im not the biggest olympics fan, and this is the first time ive ever really payed attention to it mind you, well except for the time ice dancers Torville and Dean skated their way into my heart, but thats a different and much more sensitive subject.

Who else thinks we should put together an "all UK" side and send them to china?

I don't think anyone should go to a communist country to play games, unless they are communists too.

let's keep the rules as they are. If England deserves, it will qualify.

You're right. We should have a GB team.

The reason we don't is because Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and England all have separate seats at FIFA. They are afraid that if they "pooled" for the Olympics, there would be pressure on them to do it permanently.

They might be right. Who knows?

Mr. Blatter says that a special dispensation will be made for London 2102. The English FA is for it, at present, but the other three are against.

In reality you are asking for 4 FAs to agree. Not easy.