International Football thread

[sussexpob]

Bit surprised so many people seem happy about O'Neill being linked, seeing as how he is Northern Irish, or maybe that doesn't matter anymore ?

He is catholic and comes from a strong nationalist family... hence him being able and wanting to take the Celtic job, a club that identifies itself as a Catholic club and with a huge following in Southern Ireland.

James McClean came from the same town or area in N.Ireland and went as far as saying that people from his background find it increasingly uncomfortable to identify with N.Ireland

[mikesiva]

'Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has backed his midfielder Jack Wilshere's claim that only English people should play football for England. Manchester United's Belgian-born Adnan Januzaj could qualify for England in the future by residency. Asked about the issue, Wilshere, 21, said: "If you live in England for five years it doesn't make you English."'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24469540

So, what about Kevin Pietersen and the England cricket team, then?


'South African born England cricketer Kevin Pietersen responded to Wilshere's comments by asking the Gunners player: "Interested to know how you define foreigner...? Would that include me, [former England cricket captain Andrew] Strauss, Trott, Prior, [golfer] Justin Rose, [cyclist Chris] Froome, Mo Farah? "Same difference.. It's about representing your country! IN ANY SPORT!"'


Cue back-tracking from Wilshere....


'"To be clear, never said 'born in England' - I said English people should play for England. Great respect for people like KP [Kevin Pietersen], Mo Farah [born in Somalia] and Wilf Zaha [born in Ivory Coast] - they make the country proud. My view on football - going to a new country when you're an adult, and because you can get a passport you play for that national team - I disagree."'

So, how old was KP when he left South Africa for England? He was 17 when he was playing for Natal. He was 19 when he moved to England, wasn't he? How old is Januzaj? 18? I suppose Wilshere could argue that KP already had a British passport....

So, like Eoin Morgan then? Is Wilshere digging a hole for himself?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24455721

"The only people who should play for England are English people. If I went to Spain and lived there for five years, I'm not going to play for Spain."

Well, the reason for that is obvious...you will never be good enough to play for Spain, Jack!

But if you went next door to Portugal, Jack, you will meet Deco, who played 75 times for Portugal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deco

Deco is a Brazilian who moved to Portugal at the age of 19, and did the five-year residency bit before qualifying for the Portuguese national team....

[st_brendy]

This has been blown way out of proportion in my view. From the moment Wilshere first spoke, I instantly took it that he was referring to the likes of Almunia, Arteta, Di Canio (ok, they're examples of the past ten years, not right now, but the point is the same) who technically have become qualified to play football for England. That's it. He wasn't, in my view, having a go at race or anything like that. Just a rule in a rulebook. Hence his example of him moving to Spain for five years (his answer to which actually clearly has nothing to do with his ability or lack of).

[SaintPowelly]

I agree with Wilshere 100% and I dont like him.

[SaintPowelly]

Wilshere is a bit of a pillock though. 'We're English. We tackle hard'

Is he implying other nations don't tackle hard?

That was stupid, considering hes the biggest ponce who cant tackle anyway, made it ironic.

[SaintPowelly]

Did Wilshere say/imply 'born in this country', 'raised', or 'lived here a few years'?

tbh, I think most would prefer a team with players that were born/raised in this country. Who have been coached and educated on our land. This goes for all sports for me. I wasn't actually o worried about Mo Farah, as I thought he had been raised abroad. I only really started to support him, after I realised he had in fact been raised in England.

He said people that move him aren't English despite fulfilling a residency period, not sure why KP is getting involved, he has an English mum.

Jonathan Trott for example will NEVER be English.

[sussexpob]

I think its just another reason to think that Jack Wilshere was born without a brain.... why make a statement like that, it is only going to be twisted by the press whatever the aim. Go have a fag and think about what you ave done Jacky

I dont have a problem with a 30 year old Arteta playing for England.... I want England to do well and win

[SaintPowelly]

I dont have a problem with a 30 year old Arteta playing for England.... I want England to do well and win

I wouldn't mind if Schneiderlin was called up ( believe he is eligible either now or soon ), but I'm not going to say Wilsheres views are wrong.

[sussexpob]

I dont have a problem with a 30 year old Arteta playing for England.... I want England to do well and win

I wouldn't mind if Schneiderlin was called up ( believe he is eligible either now or soon ), but I'm not going to say Wilsheres views are wrong.

See Schneiderlin is another one I wouldnt have a problem with because he has lived all of his adult life(plus 18) outside of France, and his professional footballing fabric has been moulded in England. I doubt many French lads would want to play foe England, but I would be happy for him to decide for himself.

I agree with Wilshere's refined point, but debate why he has mentioned it when the issue is so contenious. He is a little bit of an idiot really!

In general I think that 5 years is enough regardless of age to have positive feelings of nationality so there isnt many people I would consider not pickable should they chose.... but no player should change nationality, thta is a definate no no.

[Gingerfinch]

Wilshere is a bit of a pillock though. 'We're English. We tackle hard'

Is he implying other nations don't tackle hard?

[Gingerfinch]

Did Wilshere say/imply 'born in this country', 'raised', or 'lived here a few years'?

tbh, I think most would prefer a team with players that were born/raised in this country. Who have been coached and educated on our land. This goes for all sports for me. I wasn't actually o worried about Mo Farah, as I thought he had been raised abroad. I only really started to support him, after I realised he had in fact been raised in England.

[Gingerfinch]

Did Wilshere say/imply 'born in this country', 'raised', or 'lived here a few years'?

tbh, I think most would prefer a team with players that were born/raised in this country. Who have been coached and educated on our land. This goes for all sports for me. I wasn't actually o worried about Mo Farah, as I thought he had been raised abroad. I only really started to support him, after I realised he had in fact been raised in England.

He said people that move him aren't English despite fulfilling a residency period, not sure why KP is getting involved, he has an English mum.

Jonathan Trott for example will NEVER be English.

Cheers. I see where he's coming from but in all honesty, a player like Arteta for instance would probably play with as much determination as some of our English born players do at times.

[Kim]

Did Wilshere say/imply 'born in this country', 'raised', or 'lived here a few years'?

tbh, I think most would prefer a team with players that were born/raised in this country. Who have been coached and educated on our land. This goes for all sports for me. I wasn't actually o worried about Mo Farah, as I thought he had been raised abroad. I only really started to support him, after I realised he had in fact been raised in England.

He said people that move him aren't English despite fulfilling a residency period, not sure why KP is getting involved, he has an English mum.

Jonathan Trott for example will NEVER be English.

Who says? Wilshere? And why?

Don't know why KP got involved either as the two sports are fundamentally different. You can be born in a backwater like San Marino and still play top class international football, play at Wembley etc.. With only 10 test nations cricket has to be more inclusive.

[Alviro Patterson]

I just find it hilarious how folk misinterpret what Wilshere says, whether to gain publicity or to fuel their own beliefs.

He's in the view that players should play for their own nationality, that is the whole point of international sport.

[Durhamfootman]

Over the next few days, I expect England to qualify for the finals in Brazil. It'd be nice to qualify in emphatic style, but I suppose the reality is that we'll just about fall over the line.... just about!