National Identity?

[riversmonkey]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2011/may/11/assou-ekotto-bassong-france-race-quotas

Interesting article featuring two of our players.

Where does everyone stand on the debate, should one represent the country of birth, or your country of origin?

Obviously we have interesting situations involving English players representing the other home nations and the Republic of Ireland.

 

[Spurger King]

Interesting interviews. The French have always been an odd bunch though. I can't remember wether it was the national team, or PSG, but there was a match a couple of years ago where the fans turned on their own team, and started cheering for the opposition :lol:

As for whether you should play for the country of origin or country of birth...I guess it comes down to how strongly they feel connected to a country. If one or both of your parents are from a country different to where you are born, you're going to be raised with a strong connection to that other country.

The only time when it really bothers me is when the links are so tenuous, like with Vinny Jones playing for Wales. Mind you, if Almunia can play for England because he now has residential status, I guess anything goes.