England have a plethora of talent at their disposable, players such as Jack Grealish, Phil Foden and Harry Kane. This makes it hard for a lot of players born in England to break through. So in order to get a taste of international football some players look elsewhere - the country their parents or grandparents were born.
There have been some really talented players recently that have turned their backs on the Three Lions and played for a different country, but this has happened throughout the years. Rumours have it that Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ademola Lookman are thinking about switching nationalities to Ghana and Nigeria, respectively, to get more chances at the international stage. This would be a blow for England to lose players of their quality but can they even get into the already talented side?
These is the best XI of players born in England that are currently playing for a different national team:
GK - Bailey Peacock-Farrell
Born in Darlington, Peacock-Farrell joined Middlesbrough as youngster and then signed for Leeds where he became fist choice. But after the signing of Kiko Casilla from Real Madrid he found opportunities limited and signed for Premier League side Burnley. He has yet to stake a claim at the number one spot and has been on loan at Sheffield Wednesday this season where he has found form.
The goalkeeper is eligible for Northern Ireland as his grandfather was born there and he has represented them at Under 21 and senior level making his first appearance in 2018. He has played 29 times for Northern Ireland has been first choice goalkeeper ever since. Before his debut England apparently contacted him to switch allegiances but he chose to remain with Northern Ireland.
RB - Matty Cash
It has been a big story in recent weeks that Aston Villa Matty Cash has chosen to represent Poland, as his mothers side of the family have ties to the country. Originally a midfielder, Cash found great form for Nottingham Forest at right back and it earned him a move to Premier League Villa.
This switch to right back made his international opportunities for England very limited to the high number of quality right backs currently playing for England. In October this year he applied for a Polish passport and was called up to the squad the following month, making his debut for Poland in a 4-1 victory over Andorra and his second and only appearance to date a 2-1 loss to Hungary. I am sure there will be many more appearances for Poland to come for Cash.
CB - Steven Caulker
Steven Caulker had a promising career ahead of him, breaking through at Tottenham he had the makings of a great defender for England, he even played once and scored for England in a friendly against Sweden in 2012. He also played for the Great Britain team at the 2012 Olympics. But he never played for the Three Lions again and his club form slowly dwindled.
His personal troubles got in the way and he slowly found his way out of football after he left Queen's Park Rangers in December 2017. He got a break a year later with Dundee in Scotland, during this time there was talk of him playing for Scotland but that never materialised. He moved to Turkey were he has said to be much happier and back enjoying football.
In October 2021 he expressed to desire in playing for Sierra Leonne and was in the process of switching allegiances. He played once for the African nation in a non FIFA sanctioned against a team of local Moroccan footballers and lost 2-1. Will he become a big name in Sierra Leonne football?
CB - Liam Cooper
Leeds United captain Liam Cooper, was born in Kingston Upon Hull and has only ever played for Scotland internationally, qualifying through his maternal grandfather who was born there. He made his senior debut in 2019 and has went on to play 11 times including at Euro 2020, he has been a mainstay in the Scotland side ever since.
LB - Ola Aina
A 17 time international with Nigeria although born in London, Aina started his career with Chelsea and was tipped to be a promising full back for the Blues and also England. He played for the Three Lions youth teams right from the Under 16s to the Under 20s.
Game time at Chelsea was limited and he went out on loan with Hull in 2017 and then with Torino in the Serie A who he eventually signed for. England never came calling and in 2017 he was called up for the Super Eagles and has been ever present for them.
RM - Daniel James
A little known fact is Dan James, who broke through at Swansea in 2016, was actually born in Hull and qualifies to play for Wales through his father. James has only ever played for Wales' youth teams and made his senior debut in 2018 while still at the Swans.
It didn't quite work out for him at Manchester United but now at Leeds he could rediscover his form and become a real important player for club and country going forward.
CM - Scott McTominay
Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay was born in Lancaster and rose through the youth academy to be a prominent player for the Red Devils - playing 150 games at the time of writing, still just 24.
His father is Scottish and he only ever had eyes for Scotland - he rejected opportunities to play at youth level for England and Scotland to focus on United. In 2018 he made his first international appearance for Scotland has been one of their important players, playing every game for them at Euro 2020.
CM - Giovanni Reyna
Son of former USA, Rangers and Sunderland midfielder Claudio Reyna - Gio was born in Sunderland while his father was still playing for the Black Cats. He moved to New York when he was five.
A career for the Three Lions was never really an option for him and he only ever played for the United States youth teams and made his senior debut in 2020.
Reyna is still just 19 despite playing 69 games for Borussia Dortmund at the time of writing, a fantastic attacking midfielder with a great future ahead of him - maybe he is one that got away for England.
LM - Ben Brereton Diaz
A fantastic and well known story, Ben Brereton (Diaz) was born in Stoke and broke through at Nottingham Forest before a big move to Blackburn for £7million in 2018. It took a while for him to settle in and fans believed he didn't live up to the expectations.
However, Chilean fans of football manager discovered he was eligible to play for Chile as his mother is from there. An online campaign started to get him called up to the side and in May of this year it actually happened he played for Chile at the Copa America - scoring the winning goal against Bolivia.
He became a star in Chile and is even the face of Pepsi in the country, playing in South America fired him up and he rediscovered his form at club level - scoring 16 goals in 21 games for Blackburn this season.
Now sitting in 4th place, will Ben Brereton Diaz be the man who fires former Premier League winners back to the top flight once again?
A great video from the League of 72 goes into more detail of his second coming as Chilean:
ST - Erling Haaland
It is a well known fact that Haaland was born in Leeds while his father Alf-Inge Haaland was playing for the club. But just like Reyna, playing for the country of his birth was never really an option for him and he has only ever played for Norway international.
Haaland as a player requires no introduction, 141 goals in 181 games at club level he is one of the best strikers in world football and at just 21 he is quite frankly a joke. Just imagine what could have been if Haaland and Harry Kane were up front for the England together.
ST - Michail Antonio
Michail Antonio has rose from a decent lower league winger to one of the best strikers in the Premier League. Now 31 he has hit great form for West Ham who are absolutely flying at the minute under David Moyes.
Born in Wandsworth in London, Antonio waited patiently for his chance with England and it actually came in 2016 when he was called up, but he didn't feature and in 2017 was called up again but withdrew through injury - a chance never came again.
In August this year he was called up by Jamaica, who have spent years trying to convince him to switch allegiances. Antonio, along with a host of English born players have switched to Jamaica in recent years as the nation looks to call up as many English based players to help push for their 2022 World Cup Qualification.
Antonio has scored two goals in three games so far for his new nation including an absolute screamer in a 1-1 draw against the USA.
SUBS
Che Adams
Kemar Roofe
Ravel Morrison
Cameron Cater-Vickers
Antonee Robinson
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