Almunia For England: Would You Pick Him?

[QPR Report]

Not me. Whatever the legalities, I think it's wrong to have Almunia play for England.

Independent -
Capello sees England future for Almunia

After watching the Champions League semi-finals, the manager is drawing bold conclusions that could reshape the national side

By Sam Wallace, Football Correspondent

Arsenal's Manuel Almunia could be available to play for England next season

Viewed through Fabio Capello's expensively-endorsed Zerorh+ spectacles, the Champions League semi-final first legs were not an overwhelming cause for celebration for the England manager, even if they were dominated by English clubs. Just seven players who featured over the two games are eligible to play for England but look on the bright side: at least none of them, Rio Ferdinand apart, picked up an injury that might rule them out of next month's World Cup qualifiers.

What did the England manager learn on his trips to the Nou Camp and Old Trafford? He may only have seen seven Englishmen on show but there was also one goalkeeper who could be eligible to put on an England shirt by the time Capello's side play the Netherlands on 12 August.

Manuel Almunia could be the England No 1

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The situation from the Capello camp is very clear: he will consider picking Almunia if the Arsenal goalkeeper gets a British passport. No ifs, no buts, the mood among Capello and his staff is that once Almunia has British nationality it would be discriminatory not to pick him. The ball is in the court of the man from Pamplona. He was excellent against Manchester United on Wednesday and he is potentially the only English goalkeeper who is a first-choice for a big four club.

If Almunia is willing to get the passport – after five years in England he is eligible in July, the fifth anniversary of his arrival at Arsenal – then Capello (below) will back him over all the inevitable voices of protest, even if they come from within the Football Association. Like Eduardo da Silva (once Brazilian, now Croatian) and Deco (once Brazilian, now Portuguese) there would be nothing in the rules stopping Almunia from playing for England.

This being the iron-fisted Capello regime there are no guarantees that Almunia would definitely be picked for England, the Italian is just not the sort of man who does deals. Nevertheless, recent performances would have Almunia in the team ahead of David James who is nowhere near the Champions League with Portsmouth.

www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/internationals/capello-sees-england-future-for-almunia-1677025.html

[Zamoraaaah]

It wouldn't bother me if he played for England.

[Markqpr]

If he knows how to stand in a queue and moan, sometimes both together, then chuck him a passport and put him between the sticks. So much better than what our choices are at the moment.

[Markqpr]

news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/gossip_and_transfers/8030318.stm

Arsenal keeper Manuel Almunia has shown he is not one for sitting on the fence by launching a stinging attack on Champions League rivals Chelsea.
Almunia calls Chelsea's football "boring" and their supporters "ghosts" while stating he would rather play them than Barcelona in the Champions League final as they would be easier to beat. (The Sun)


For that give him a knighthood as well. ;D

[eusebio13]

May 1, 2009 6:18:10 GMT QPR Report said:

Not me. Whatever the legalities, I think it's wrong to have Almunia play for England.

Hmmm why's that Report? Is he any less English than Owen Hargreaves ? Or is it he's only an average goalie? Would it be different if it was Messi? Did the Republic of Ireland teams of Jack Charlton inspire the Irish less because of the many Plastic Paddys in them?

England & Britain has a long tradition of co-opting sportsmen & women who's lineage is somewhat suspect.

[QPR Report]

I think you should be born in England. Or have English parents. Or English grandparents.

I know what some other countries do. I think it's wrong.

Otherwise, where's the limit?

(And it's not the same as having a foreign coach in charge of the National team, although even that, I don't think is so great - even if (and clearly are) the foreign coaches are better than the English coaches)

[eusebio13]

May 2, 2009 8:46:44 GMT QPR Report said:

I think you should be born in England. Or have English parents. Or English grandparents.

I know what some other countries do. I think it's wrong.

Otherwise, where's the limit?

(And it's not the same as having a foreign coach in charge of the National team, although even that, I don't think is so great - even if (and clearly are) the foreign coaches are better than the English coaches)

You're criteria is just as arbitrary. My daughter has a British born father and Portuguese grandparent and an Irish mother who's father was born in Australia, under your system she can represent England, Britain, Portugal, Ireland & Australia so what's her identity?

[QPR Report]

All of them! (I acknowledge the arbitrariness of my argument)...
Maybe if the player is born elsewhere, but came to the country before was a footballer. It just seems kind of mercenary to "Select" which country you're going to play for, when you're not really "of" that country.
I may not have put it very well. But that's what I believe

[eusebio13]

May 2, 2009 9:03:13 GMT QPR Report said:

All of them! (I acknowledge the arbitrariness of my argument)...
Maybe if the player is born elsewhere, but came to the country before was a footballer. It just seems kind of mercenary to "Select" which country you're going to play for, when you're not really "of" that country.
I may not have put it very well. But that's what I believe

And you are entitled to that belief....I guess my issue is that nationalism is always arbitrary and what ever the rule is then "dem de rules". Portugal have Deco who is clearly Brazilian but he adds to the collective wealth, Eusebio himself was from Mozambique and was brought to Portugal when he was 18 just like John Barnes came to the UK when he was a boy, are they less Portuguese or English heroes? I know that this debate is going on in Portugal around Liedson and I would play him in a second given the choice.

[QPR Report]

And Zildane of course, and in the USA, Freddie Adu...
And Wegerle as I recall had the choice of 4 or 5 countries.

[eusebio13]

May 2, 2009 9:22:55 GMT QPR Report said:

And Zildane of course, and in the USA, Freddie Adu...
And Wegerle as I recall had the choice of 4 or 5 countries.

I always remember when Ben Johnson won the Olympic 100m he was Canadian but when he failed the drug test he was Jamaican ;D