Jack Wilshere has waded into the debate over Adnan Januzaj by claiming England should only pick players who are born in the country. England manager Roy Hodgson has admitted the FA want the United starlet, who was born in Belgium but could qualify for several countries.
Every player in Hodgson’s 23-man squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Montenegro on Friday and Poland next Tuesday was born in England.
Instant impact: Januzaj scores the first of his two goals against Sunderland on Saturday
Every player in Hodgson’s 23-man squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Montenegro on Friday and Poland next Tuesday was born in England.
Instant impact: Januzaj scores the first of his two goals against Sunderland on Saturday
Wilshere said: ‘The only people who should play for England are English people. If you live in England for five years it doesn’t make you English. If I went to Spain and lived there for five years I’m not going to play for Spain.’
FIFA rules say Januzaj, 18, must live in England for at least five years to qualify. The issue also affects the Under 21 team, with Nathaniel Chalobah (Sierra Leone), Saido Berahino (Burundi), Raheem Sterling (Jamaica) and Wilfried Zaha (Ivory Coast) having been born overseas.
Wilshere said: ‘We have to remember what we are, we are English and we tackle hard and we are tough on the pitch and we are hard to beat. We have great characters. You think of Spain and they are technical, but you think of England and you think they are brave and they tackle hard.
‘If you look at our squad there isn’t a bad technical player. Gerrard and Lampard can both play. Cleverley, Daniel Sturridge, Wayne Rooney — we can play possession football. We have started to show that over the last few years and it suits my game.’
In contrast, Under 21 boss Gareth Southgate said the nationality debate was complex. ‘We have lots of boys in our squad who weren’t born here but whose families have fled here — and some wonderful stories,’ said Southgate.
‘Saido, Wilf, Nat Chalobah. All incredibly proud to play for England. The world is changing, families are moving more, working abroad.
'It’s important to know why somebody would want to play for you. I am torn about it.
'Had Januzaj played for somebody else, that would be more of an issue. Once you have done that, especially at senior level, then you are coming somewhere else for another reason.
‘If you’ve not played for anybody, then it’s a greyer area. Personally, I wouldn’t have wanted to play for anyone else. My sole thing was I wanted to play for England.’
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FIFA rules say Januzaj, 18, must live in England for at least five years to qualify. The issue also affects the Under 21 team, with Nathaniel Chalobah (Sierra Leone), Saido Berahino (Burundi), Raheem Sterling (Jamaica) and Wilfried Zaha (Ivory Coast) having been born overseas.
Wilshere said: ‘We have to remember what we are, we are English and we tackle hard and we are tough on the pitch and we are hard to beat. We have great characters. You think of Spain and they are technical, but you think of England and you think they are brave and they tackle hard.
‘If you look at our squad there isn’t a bad technical player. Gerrard and Lampard can both play. Cleverley, Daniel Sturridge, Wayne Rooney — we can play possession football. We have started to show that over the last few years and it suits my game.’
In contrast, Under 21 boss Gareth Southgate said the nationality debate was complex. ‘We have lots of boys in our squad who weren’t born here but whose families have fled here — and some wonderful stories,’ said Southgate.
‘Saido, Wilf, Nat Chalobah. All incredibly proud to play for England. The world is changing, families are moving more, working abroad.
'It’s important to know why somebody would want to play for you. I am torn about it.
'Had Januzaj played for somebody else, that would be more of an issue. Once you have done that, especially at senior level, then you are coming somewhere else for another reason.
‘If you’ve not played for anybody, then it’s a greyer area. Personally, I wouldn’t have wanted to play for anyone else. My sole thing was I wanted to play for England.’
Follow StuntStarBlog on Twitter and Facebook For regular updates
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