England for the Engl-ish

(The title stolen from a line in a song by the above bastion of Englishness - see http://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/dec/10/sport.comment)

Huzzah, it's the international break again! The sporadic season interval that places an embargo on the usual week-long fixture list of desirable games, in favour of a bi-weekly display by your wilting nation (invariably against the likes of Azerbaijan). The excitement is overwhelming...

Appearing equally effervescent, Roy Hodgson last week announced England's squad for the potentially cringy double date with Chile and Germany, and though it was riddled with a few new faces, much of the squad's composition was as expected; the quintessentially British sounding Rodriguez the exception. But despite the slow evolution of the playing staff over the past 18 months, the new cohort finally making inroads into the "Golden Generation", there's a fear England remain bereft of the technical athletes that their competitors produce in their droves - a number of which may actually be on show at Wembley this week (Gotze, Ozil, Alexis).

Oddly, however, in seeking to address this lack of subtly, invention and verve, the FA seems only to have deepened concerns. To onlookers of English football, some of last month's activities look as desperate as a suburban housewife (or as any lesser-spotted celebrity on "Get Me Out of Here")! Over the past decade there has been a metaphorical revolving door at the FA's offices, new facilities built at St. George's Park, as well as numerous Posh Spice-esque face lifts to the national game; and yet England are still pinning hopes, and expending finite resources, on poaching players primarily qualified for other nations.

The rationale is obvious: improved performances and results in the short-term from the one time World Cup winners - the triumph of 1966 worn like a millstone round the neck; especially given that, despite qualifying for next summer's World Cup festivities, modern history is littered with performances flatter than a size zero model. The Chief Executive summing up the nations expectation levels ahead of Brazil 2014 by proclaiming "2022" a more achievable target (helpful) - in a nutshell, the players are infinitely more likely to return with one of Rio's infamous lady-boy's than any silverware.

There is therefore, a legitimate argument that failure to incorporate the best athletes available to England merely restricts progress further - after all, the ploy of 'adopting' candidates has been widely used in other sports and by other nations to aid success (see England's current Ashes XI or Ireland's World Cup side of 1994). But for many, including myself, the notion of selecting players for the national team via a regulatory loop-hole offers a worrying precedent.

Jack Wilshere's remarks on the possibility of using the FIFA residency rules to qualify Manchester United's Adnan Januzaj, a player who is eligible for virtually every nation except England, spoke volumes. Dressed in a tracksuit (as worn by those from Luton) and looking strikingly similar to Tommy Robinson (that's nothing more than a visual observation), Wilshere announced, "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".

(Is that Messi in the back of Noel
Fielding's wagon?)

Though doubtless he could have been more careful with the wording of his statement, the crux of the issue is that a national team, by its very definition, is for players originating from the given country only. Henry Winter, writing in the Telegraph, likened the FA's attempts to artificially broaden the pool of players available to England to adopting "the Child Catcher role from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang".

The problem is driven by the blurred essence of Englishness, and who/what constitutes an English sportsman or woman? Most, in a model world, would like to see the boy or girl from their street or their town representing their hopes and desires on the world stage; someone that they can relate to and feel inherently proud of. Depending on your location, ethnic origin, and even economic background, this "model athlete" represents vastly different values. The normative nature of the above guarantees that the answer to the question "what is an Englishman?" will differ hugely from individual to individual.

So, do you rely on place of birth? Do you take a scientific approach that states an athlete's genetic makeup as the defining factor in their eligibility? Adopt a political stance and allow someone who has been an inhabitant of the nation for a certain duration of time? Or, implement the intangible, and allow those who have a passion to represent a given country to participate? The huge amount of maneuverability within these constraints, especially when used in conjunction with each other, highlights the difficulty in installing a one-size-fits-all policy... furthermore I expect almost every reader has a differing preference.

For the viability of inter-nation sports going forward there must be a practical and credible framework. As things stand, the loose application of qualifying criteria, such as residency, leaves the system open to abuse, and thus the incumbent population exposed... What's to prevent players being re-homed in a given nation, 'supported economically', and introduced to the national team set up in due course? In theory there's still time for Qatar to put together a competitive XI!

Whenever nationality/race issues are discussed there is a degree of sensitivity, and this particular debate will be no different (see the media circus surrounding Jack Wilshere's comments). I understand, and empathise with concerns, but I do wonder why the English are so precious about their nationality when it comes to Football. After all, they embraced the successes of a multitude of athletes from a diverse ethnic background in last summer's Olympic games; Mo Farah, Chris Froome et al. Furthermore, the residency rules allowed Deco and Marcos Senna to represent Portugal and Spain respectively, and it would take a belligerent soul to argue their detrimental effect on their countries' progression (I don't think I'm overstepping the mark when I say that Spain are pretty good).

I wonder therefore whether it's the perceived attack on a national institution, or the acceptance of defeat as a footballing force? Let’s be honest, it's hardly a show of strength that the explosion onto the scene of a young Belgian player with no English heritage has even been discussed as a prospective way forward!

Below I have outlined a few sportspeople who qualified for England via a variety of categories discussed above. Where do you feel the line should be drawn? At what point does the makeup of a national team no longer represent its people?

Phil Jagielka -
Born in Manchester, but eligible for Poland through ancestry. Carries a name as British as a sun-tan.

Terry Butcher -

(This iconic image has become the
benchmark by which all subsequent
England players are judged - But is
Terry Butcher English?)

A symbol of England's courage and passion, Butcher was in fact born in Singapore; though he moved to England when he was a child.

Wilfried Zaha -
Arrived on our shores from the Ivory Coast aged just 4. Has 2 caps for England to date.

Saido Berehino -
Passionate about playing for England in the future, the West Bromwich star was moved to the UK from Burundi when he was just 10 years of age.

John Barnes -
the jinky winger and part time rapper was born and raised in Jamaica. His family moved to London when he was a teenager and he subsequently amassed 79 England caps (and a number 1 hit).

Owen Hargreaves -
Born in Canada to a Welsh mother and an English father; Hargreaves opted for England in 2001 (he had never been a resident of the country at that point)

Lewis Holtby -
A Rhineland born midfield player with an English father. Has chosen to represent Deutschland.

Tony Dorigo -
Born in Australia, Dorigo was approached by the FA and asked to postpone his international career for an additional year in order to obtain British citizenship. He subsequently made 15 appearances for England.

Victor Moses -
Although hailing from Lagos, Nigeria, Moses represented England up to U-21 level through residency. He eventually chose to represent the country of his birth.

Adnan Januzaj -
Born in Belgium to Albanian-Kosovan parents, Januzaj is also eligible to play for Turkey and Serbia. He could potentially obtain citizenship and play for England in 2018.

(England's great hope - Wayne Rooney)

Wayne Rooney -
Drafted from a fairy-tale swamp, Rooney has amassed 86 caps (none of which, I have on good authority, fit on his head).

Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule googling naughty 'selfies'...

Please let me have your comments/feedback! I'm intrigued to know what the common consensus is...

BC
@BobbyCowsill
https://www.facebook.com/groups/262906063816351/

Team GB

German cuisine, canned laughter, Sergio Busquets, the Euro, the Isle of Wight, consistent weather, people who push in, Skoda, modern ‘music’, foreign languages, re-branding, health and safety regulations, foreplay, and Olympic football; are all facets of life that the average Britain has turned his/her back on.

Certain factors have tried to entice the Brits round - Bratwurst, Friends, Las Ketchup, Rosetta Stone, and Aviva’s ‘Greeeeeeen Arrrrrrrmy’ adverts to name a few - but it is likely that only the splendid victory over the French in the bid for the 2012 Olympics will ultimately succeed.

The entry of a Team GB into this summer’s Games, the first appearance since 1972, is sure to provide the English with an antidote to their Euro 2012 failure; and present the Welsh with a rare chance to challenge for international honours - in an event that doesn’t involve an all male choir. For these reasons alone, expect Olympic football to move into the realms of ‘mildly interesting’.

(For those non-Scots...)

Sadly this may not apply to Britain’s most northerly third, whom following Andy Murray’s withdrawal for a severely ruptured ego, have no representatives within the Team GB Olympic football squad - another summer of caber-tossing, golf and Buckfast in the park awaits then.

Stuart ‘Psycho’ Pearce’s omission of any Scottish players is bewildering on a number of levels; namely the alienation of a huge slice of Britain, and the further expression of the Anglo-centric opinion that Scottish players are inferior goods - Bannan, Forrest and Rhodes can all feel rightly aggrieved about their non-consideration.

Still, this potential flash point pales into insignificance against the exclusion of former footballer, full-time celebrity, and soon to be Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, David Robert Beckham.

(Left - Capello, Right- Postman pat)

Following the announcement in early June that Beckham had been included in the provisional squad of 35 players ‘going for gold’, I think many, including myself, felt his inclusion was a mere formality. Beckham had been a focal point of both the 2012 Olympic bid, and the unsuccessful World Cup bid, and thus the Games was billed as the perfect swansong for the former England Captain – having been somewhat unceremoniously dumped by Postman Pat double, Fabio Capello, in 2009.

Stuart Pearce however, being the man that took the helm for a solitary England game and selected his own captain (I’m not saying he’s egocentric), thought otherwise; choosing instead to take Craig Bellamy, Ryan Giggs, and Micah Richards as the over 23 year old contingent.

There is clear logic behind the inclusions of Welsh duo Bellamy and Giggs - nationality, availability, and their ability to play on the left-hand side all contributors – but man-mountain, Richards, place is more contentious. Not many parties doubt his ability (despite a hideous tackle in Team GB’s defeat to Brazil), and he could be considered unfortunate to have missed out on a place in the senior squad for Euro 2012, but he has a promising international future ahead of him... Beckham’s last chance is now.

With David Beckham you don’t just get a footballer, you get a brand... It’s that sprinkling of stardust that makes the Olympics so captivating; think Bolt, Phelps, Cavendish, and Eric the Eel. Although there is no ‘footballing reason’ why ‘thunder thighs’ shouldn’t attend, economically it is nonsense.

On 18 July 2012 the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games withdrew 500,000 tickets for the football; with only 250,000 to be redistributed. Based on the fact the majority of removed tickets are for the ‘cheap seats’, at a price of £20 (and not including associated consumer expenditure), that’s a revenue loss of circa £5 million. With ticket purchase so slow, the Olympic football tournament is crying out for a crowd pleaser like David Beckham, and frankly I doubt even Micah Richard’s family will bother turning up to witness him in the lavish new Team GB strip.

Beckham is a ready-made billboard, and the Olympics will suffer from his exclusion... not to mention all 5 tax paying members of the public.

It should be noted however, that despite all this talk of finances, David Beckham should not be written off as a footballer; in fact, his argument for inclusion on ability alone is compelling. Tournament football is about moments - Welbeck’s back heel against Sweden, Balotelli’s stunning 2^nd against Germany, and Alba’s lung-busting run and strike for Spain; all key to their team’s success in Euro 2012 – and what better dead ball exponent in the world is there than Beckham? (bar Juninho Pernambucano, Pirlo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Rogerio Ceni (GK), Sneijder... Ian Harte (apologies’ for the display of pedantry)).

In addition, whereas the rest of the GB squad is betwixt fixtures, David Beckham is in the height of LA Galaxy’s ‘regular season’... meaning fitness is unlikely to be an issue. His form has been strong too, having scored three times in the MLS in his last two outings (granted, even Heskey could score in the MLS); the pick of the goals coming against the Portland Timbers (see below). 

As a final thought, will Giggs and co be giving it their all? Will they be over exerting themselves? Piling into 50/50 challenges? I very much doubt it given that the new Premier League season is on the horizon. David Beckham would doubtless have given everything for the cause, and that may well have made Team GB a more formidable outfit; at least more steely – something that Friday night’s performance, be it in a friendly, severely lacked.

Still, putting disappointments aside, the 18 men who will represent Team GB in their quest for a bronze medal will be as follows: -

Jack Butland (Birmingham), Jason Steele (Middlesbrough);

Ryan Bertrand (Chelsea), Steven Caulker (Tottenham), Craig Dawson (West Brom), Micah Richards (Manchester City), Neil Taylor (Swansea), James Tomkins (West Ham);

Joe Allen (Swansea), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Jack Cork (Southampton), Ryan Giggs (Manchester United), Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal), Danny Rose (Tottenham), Scott Sinclair (Swansea);

Craig Bellamy (Liverpool), Marvin Sordell (Bolton), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea)

Let’s see if their performances can change the British mind-set towards Olympic football for the future. 

Thanks for reading

Please retweet, share, like... better still, comment

BC

@BobbyCowsill

Facebook Group 'If that had gone in, it would have been a goal' (don't mix up with a similar fb page)

Links: -

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/news/9405536/London-2012-Olympics-500000-football-tickets-removed-to-ensure-full-stadiums.html