Team GB boss Stuart Pearce has insisted that he took no notice of the nationality of the players included in his 18-man squad for the Olympics.
Pearce, who had already garnered criticism for leaving David Beckham out of the squad, also faced questions over whether it was a truly British squad after no players from Scotland or Northern Ireland were selected.
However, Pearce argued that he chose the best players available to him and that nationality played no part in his decision.
"I've got a list of names written down that I think, ability wise, are good enough to do a job," said Pearce.
"I'm not picking on personality, I'm not picking on ticket sales and I'm certainly not picking on nationality. I couldn't even tell you how many players from Wales are in this squad, nor England.
"They are all players who are Olympians now, and that's the only way I view them."
England have 13 representatives in the squad while Wales have five, two of whom, Craig Bellamy and Ryan Giggs, are over 23.
Barney Corkhill
