'Foreign' players

[JackBuddy]

11 players in the Germany squad are eligible for another nation.

Arteta has has publicly expressed his interest in playing for England. So has Almunia, but he's toilet. Arteta was just an example, but with more young foreigners in the Premiership there should be more gaining eligibility to play.

I was initally against it, but why not? Though, I can only see an English manager being brave enough to take the risk.

[Adamm]

What about Algeria? That's a laughing stock.

[CHA!NGANG]

I had a big debate about this with a few mates. I don't think it's fair for someone who can play for there mother country to take the space of another player who can only play for the other country. E/G If Arteta played for England, he'd take Carricks place for example. That isn't fair for Carrick as he can only play for England whilst Arteta isn't good enough for Spain so he plays for England taking another persons space.

It would be better for England but it's morally wrong imo.

Algeria could have had Zidane, Nasri, Benzema and others.

[AlexOC]

I think Almunia is better than anything we have got.

[CHA!NGANG]

Almunia isn't that bad. Just not good enough for Arsenal imo. He's better than James and Green if I'm honest although he's prone to mistakes. Hart has been better than Almunia this season though.

[W00TZEH]

If he's not good enough for Arsenal then he's not good enough for England either. And I wondered this too, I'm against it tbh.

[CHA!NGANG]

If he's not good enough for Arsenal then he's not good enough for England either. And I wondered this too, I'm against it tbh.

Yes that's true, but neither are Green or James imo.

[Geraint]

Half of Wales' players are English.

[W00TZEH]

wish Giggs played for England

[JackBuddy]

Half of Wales' players are English.
I think it's different when it's within Britain as there's often genuine citizenship to one/two countries.

[Geraint]

wish Giggs played for England

Ramsey, Bale, Collison


I think it's different when it's within Britain as there's often genuine citizenship to one/two countries.

Lots just qualify through something like Welsh grandfather. We're grateful really :)

[W00TZEH]

Ramsey, Bale, Collison



Lots just qualify through something like Welsh grandfather. We're grateful really :)
none of them have anything on Giggs. He's a legend.

[JackBuddy]

Ramsey, Bale, Collison



Lots just qualify through something like Welsh grandfather. We're grateful really :)
But to an extent England, Scotland, Wales and NI are all one country. There's a much bigger difference between a Spaniard playing for England and an Englishman playing for Wales.

[Black_Apalachi]

If they are eligible then that's that. I can also understand why they may not necessarily prefer to play for the country they were born in - if I was an international footballer I reckon I would rather play for Ireland (I would be eligible, obviously) because I suppose I have always felt more patriotic (not really the right word but whatever) to Ireland than I have to England.

[luce]

you should play for the nation you're born in or lived in since like birth none of this legal to play for crap. It just ruins the competition because Algeria could be good and have a chance enhancing the competition with the players they should have. Same in cricket for us? our best player is from SA and so is Keiswetter (sp) who was intense in the T20 WC. So it isn't just football.

and all this i'd fancy playing for England? I mean is everyone is doing it we should but it's not club football you should be proud to represent your nation.

It is just went KP Boetang plays for Ghana and his brother plays for Germany.. why does he play for Ghana?

[Browney]

KP Boateng and Jerome are step brothers. Not sure how that helps.

Alot of players for the "total football" team of the Netherlands were born in South America.

[Geraint]

He played for Germany at as a teenager but he realised he wouldn't get chances so opted for Ghana. Jerome got a chance with Germany so played for them. They both have German mothers and Ghanaian father.s

[Adamm]

Paul Green, Doncaster born and bred now plays for the Republic of Ireland.

[Browney]

Rob Green was born and bred in England and he plays for USA. No wait.

[Black_Apalachi]

you should play for the nation you're born in or lived in since like birth none of this legal to play for crap. It just ruins the competition because Algeria could be good and have a chance enhancing the competition with the players they should have. Same in cricket for us? our best player is from SA and so is Keiswetter (sp) who was intense in the T20 WC. So it isn't just football.

and all this i'd fancy playing for England? I mean is everyone is doing it we should but it's not club football you should be proud to represent your nation.

It is just went KP Boetang plays for Ghana and his brother plays for Germany.. why does he play for Ghana?

That's a very short-sighted approach. In my case maybe it's because my parents are Irish so I'd feel they'd be more proud of me playing for Ireland, or maybe I'd be more proud of myself given that pretty much my whole family is Irish. I don't feel as much of a personal thing with England even though I was born here and I've lived here all my life. I still want England to win the World Cup - but if Ireland were involved I'd probably be supporting them equally (and I wouldn't know what to do if they met in the later stages :P).

[AlexOC]

I am rooting for r' Shay to make a miraculous recovery, gain eligibilty for england somehow, cut into the squad, and win us the world cup.