Think Nigeria will be a factor as well. It will be tough. Toney’s great form continues and Nketiah is going well at the moment.
Maybe I am naive but Balogun leading the line in an U21 finals would be a great next step for him. It’s shaping up to be a talented squad that can create chances for him. I’m not sure on the other nations’ senior schedules but I don’t think they will be able to offer a better platform for him than that this season?
I agree that next summer he won't really have a better platform. I think he's a really precarious dual though.
Southgate doesn't really do English players abroad. They have to be playing in England to be recognised. Bellingham apart
As for the whole Irish thing. Never understood the hype over being Irish. Americans are worst for it. They act like being Irish is being some magical creature. If they hadn't migrated become of the famine they wouldn't have been anymore relevant than the English Scots or Welsh
Couldn’t agree more, it’s also very cringey the way the Irish act like anyone with any Irish blood is not just Irish, but incredibly proud and passionate about it, without even knowing that person. The Rice case is a classic one. He is exactly the same as me in that he was born and raised in England to two English parents and continues to reside here, but has an Irish grandparent. Personally, I feel no connection to Ireland whatsoever and if I was a footballer but not good enough to play for England, I would just not bother with international football. I just wouldn’t feel right wearing any other shirt. I imagine a lot of other people with the tenuous link of just one grandparent from a different country feel the same way. They’re so deluded.
This is not true. Abraham gets picked playing abroad and Sancho was getting picked very early on. Trippier at Atletico too.
My mum is Irish and I feel no connection for them. I find it actually quite insulting when Irish people question my Englishness despite the fact my dad is English and I was born and bred here. They seem to have this notion that I should shun any other nationality just because I've got some Irish in me.
Christian McFarlane is back with the US for an U17 camp. Potentially trying to get him on board for the U17 CONCACAF Championship which is next month. Official Roster For The USYNT Training Camp In Florida!!! pic.twitter.com/HI2dv5zArd— Youth Soccer Central (@yscentral) January 2, 2023
Rangers U16 player Alexander Smith is a USA-Scotland-England tri-national. Currently at US U15 camp. He has also been at two Scotland U15 camps apparently as a starter.
If I were a Dual National I wouldn't go near the US team at the minute. Theres a civil war going on that could end up with people going Jail.
Not England news but hearing France are about to lose Aouar to Algeria. Guess it shows how difficult it is to keep a vast pool of top players within your setup and hopefully just another reminder that we’re not alone in facing this issue. Saying that, it does seem that they lose players later on in their careers and are thus more culpable for not giving them a chance. That could just be an anglocentric confirmation bias take though as I don’t pay much attention to their age group teams.
don't worry, the French Roverman probably made 700 posts about Mejbri playing for Tunisia on GrandFootForum
I wouldn’t fancy our chances, seems like he’s imbedded in their system now. He will likely get a senior call up at the next International window.
Yeah we know the drill unfortunately when it comes to the home nations. A few good games and you’re in the senior squad. We are simply too strong to be able to offer this easy pathway for players unless they are a Rooney level talent or we have an unprecedented injury crisis. I wouldn’t lose any sleep over Hodge anyway to be honest. He’s neat and tidy, but ultimately strikes me as another Harry Winks. I think our youth system has got much better in recent years at producing midfield prospects anyway. The likes of Patino, Braybrooke, MLS, Chukwuemeka, Mainoo and others that I can’t think of off the top of my head so there is a conveyor belt.
They do lose quite a few that they try to keep like Aubameyang and Koulibaly. They also lost Etienne Green to us not long ago, although he doesn't seem to be doing too well at the moment.
First Spain callup for Liverpool's Wellity Lucky. Was born there to Nigerian parents but moved to England when he was younger. Has played for England at U15 & U16 level.
I go over this question in my head every time I watch him. He seems pretty into getting in the France squad so I highly doubt it. Maybe we can do a scotland and wait 7 years for him to carry on being ignored by france and then convince him to play for us.
Apparently Brightons Evan Ferguson is eligible for England through his mam, England should try and entice him