Shouldn't be allowed imo.

Doesn't feel right to me.

Yes- look how successful the England cricket team have been over recent years.

other countries do it.

brazil, portugal, france all have players who arent actually born there . . hell the republic of ireland have been one of the worse.

Aren't Spain trying to get Diego Costa to join them?

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Owen Hargreaves was well received once he started playing okay, even though he didn't step foot in the UK until he was in his mid-twenties.
I had no issue with supporting Fabrice Muamba playing for England U-21s.

If it is done for the right reasons, and a player 'feels English' then it is okay.

Januzaj has no claim to an England shirt though, it is impossible for him to play for England.


Also, being half Irish I cheered on many non Irish players representing the country via grandparents heritage. And of course Tony Cascarino, who had no legal claim to Irish status.

Januzaj can't play for England due to the home nations agreement which has been in place since 1993.

The residency clause which means a player who's lived in the territory of the association in question for two years has been removed which was agreed by all four nations.

In order for Januzaj to be eligible, he would've had to have been living in England for 5 years before his 18th birthday.

He could try and claim English nationality in which case I think England could then try and claim him.

comment by So come on David Moyes, Play like Fergie boys, We go wild wild wild, We go wild wild wild. Formerly FBA. (U18222)
posted 8 minutes ago
Yes- look how successful the England cricket team have been over recent years.
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Yes- look how successful the South Africa 'A' cricket team have been over recent years.

My friend has lived in Nicaragua for years and now can be classed as Nicaraguan (ie, doesn't need a visa to go there).

So im guessing if they have lived in England long enough to officially become a citizen or what not, why not?

Barf, Ireland A as well with Rankin coming into the Ashes squad.

I guess the grey area come from players like Zaha... He was born outside the country, but grew up here and probably feels very much connected with England.

I've got no issues with that.

I think what I don't like the idea of is adults being naturalised, like Costa, as the captain mentioned above.

and TRS is right, just been reading an article about it... England wont be naturalising any players like Januzaj any time soon

I don't think players should be allowed to represent a country simply by being a resident there for x years such as Januzaj, or Diego Costa who looks likely to be picked by Spain.

However, if the player has spent much of his younger years - thus receiving most of his football education in a country - then this for me would be acceptable. I think Zaha, who was born in the Ivory Coast, but has lived in England since being a small child is a good example of this.

Wasn't their an opportunity to do it with Arteta few years back?

I think this country have to much pride to either consider that, which is good or bad depending on whether want to win or are a romantic.

*even

I wish 606 has a edit button for comments

I think it should be allowed to come naturally. People like alumina and arteta should have been considered when they qualified. I do not think we could "target" players and somehow fast track their nationality.

Above all, If they are good enough, it really should not matter were they come from provided they qualify.

All the rugby teams including england have been doing it for years. Kind of helps teams develop with players from countrys with different playing styles and flair.

I am not sure cricket and rugby are really comparable. Cricket has about 9 test nations, Rugby little over 20 national teams, while football has 230 odd FIFA nations.

Both Rugby and Cricket, I feel, need a flexibility that I don't think is necessary in football.

dont mind to be fair

It's cheating

If you grow up in this country its fine

I've no problem with players such as Zaha, as a recent example. He has spent the vast majority of his life here and considers himself English. Fairplay.

'Januzaj' or players in a similar situation is wrong though, in my eyes.
Just because a ruling allows it, it doesn't make it right

I don't particularly agree with it. We need to produce our own talent rather than trying to poach players from countries that have a good footballing youth set up.

The youth set ups of germany belgium and holland should be examined as to how they are producing such talented players.

My feeling is that if someone comes to a new country as a kid and turns into a football player having grown up in the system, he has every right to represent his adopted country.

If someone turns out to be great at football and moves to a club to further his career, he isn't a product of that country's system and shouldn't play for that country. It just serves to make richer countries better at international football.

In other words, no problem with the French team of 1998 but not comfortable with Deco playing for Portugal or Brazilian pros from the domestic league representing Japan / Croatia / UAE.