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[tigers_gonads]

So Jack Wilshire has come out and said what the average bloke in the street has been thinking for years.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england/10365464/Jack-Wilshere-fuels-debate-over-foreign-players-after-insisting-Adnan-Januzaj-should-not-represent-England.html

Whether you are a footy fan is irrelevant.
Should you only be able to represent country IF you are born there ? 

For me as a bloke who classes himself as English above British, the answer is a very big YES 

But when you sit down and think about it, is it really that cut and dry ?
For instance, should Mo Farrer wear the shirt of Great Britain ?
After all, he was born in Somalia iirc but has been here since he was a young kid, only speaks English and classes himself as English / British above all else   
Also take Kevin Pieterson the cricket player who is South African but plays for England.
Should he be told to pish off back to South Africa ?
Would they even want him back ?

Look at the farce that is the forthcoming Rugby League 'World Cup'
To qualify to play for Italy, which has no rugby league set up the criteria is
 
1. You've visited a Pizza Hut in the last 12 months.
2. Someone you know can point Italy out on a map of the World or
3. You know what Spag Bol means.
 
For Scotland; Australian Shaun McRea was appointed as coach because he was called McRea. (I have not made that up either)

1. A family member has ginger hair.
2. You cannot get in the England team or
3. Your available in November.

For Ireland.

1. You like Guinness
2. You been to Dublin (or Belfast as it doesn't matter in RL) on a stag week-end, or know someone who has.
3. You like stew.
...
Over to you fellow Oofers and remember ................... play nicely 

[Sir Tigger KC]

The thing with football is that there are so many foreigners playing in the EPL and Championship, that if they could play for England under residency rules, the England team would soon resemble a EPL side. ie Not many English players

On the other hand we might win something!!!! 

[Shackeng]

You have me confused with someone who gives a f***.

[tunnie]

You have me confused with someone who gives a f***.

Well said 

[chrisgixer]

I can't possibly see how Jamazij can qualify as an England player. Does he play in Wilshires position by any chance?

I don't know the rules on qualifying as an England player, I'm assuming SOME sort of tie to an international team is required and there seems to be non re England, so I tend to agree with Jack tbh. Even if he is a Gooner.

What are the rules on qualifying for England?

[ronnyd]

Oh dear, it,s degenerated already

[cleggy]

My thoughts for what they are worth is that if someone holds a British passport than they can play for one of our national sides depending on where they have resided for 5 years.

[albitz]

Imo they should have been born in the country they represent,or at least have parents who were born and resided in that country until they were adults. The current situation makes a complete mockery of the principle of "competing for your country".
I heard it said on TV that this new wonderkid at Man utd. may be eligible to play for any one of ten countries,which is ludicrous imo.

[plym ian]

Based on them facts i must be Italian

But seriously it should be born in England your eligible to represent England end of, none of this my granny is English so that makes me English that's wrong

Same if you grew up here but born abroad that's a definite no no 

[SteveAvfc.]

Imo they should have been born in the country they represent,or at least have parents who were born and resided in that country until they were adults. The current situation makes a complete mockery of the principle of "competing for your country".
I heard it said on TV that this new wonderkid at Man utd. may be eligible to play for any one of ten countries,which is ludicrous imo.

 

[Terbs]

IMO, all this boils down to the fact that there are not enough English players in top notch football. And there never will be whilst the teams are full of overseas players.

I think we are descending into the 'win at all cost' scenario. Its about time somebody realized that we are just not good enough, and sort the situation at league level to give more of our young talent the chance.
The previous statement 'win at all cost' should not imo, be the target of the national game. Just taking part and representing your country should play a major part.
Think about the countries that never have a chance of winning....they still field a team, national pride at just being there. I think we are losing that fast !!!!!!

Lecture over

[05omegav6]

There were some interesting statistics mentioned on Jeremy whine earlier, the basics of which were quite ironic, given the chosen profession of the chap that started the whole rumpus...

Of the three main sports, football, rugby and cricket, football had the highest percentage of born and bred Englishmen, iirc 92% against 60ish% for Cricket and summat like 45% for Rugby...

Which might go some way to explaining Kevin Petersons reaction

[MR MISTER]

I think...if we win, who cares?  If we lose, it's those pesky foreigners fault.

[05omegav6]

No point having a national squad if they don't have enough pride to put a bit of effort in imho

[cam2502]

For me, you should only be allowed to play for the country you were born in. End of.

[05omegav6]

For me, you should only be allowed to play for the country whose colony you were born in. End of.

Fixed

[bored bigyin54]

You have me confused with someone who gives a f***.

well said