[Albion] Sanchez: England or Spain?

[Bombadier Botty]

Whatever next, a Swedish national posting on an English message forum displaying a better grasp of the language than many native posters. Could he qualify as an NSC mod one day?

 

[GT49er]

Or the Ir-ish Chris Hughton...

Well yes, most of Jack Charlton's 'Irish' team actually!

 

[macbeth]

Not ‘silly’ at all, if anything your Johnson analogy is ridiculous, he spent three months in New York after his birth before his English parents returned to the UK, he was never a US national,

He was a US citizen until 2016

 

[Liquid Football]

According to this Argus article from a few years ago, his biggest goalkeeping heroes are Iker Casillas and David De Gea:

https://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/15...e-albions-new-kid-on-the-block-robert-sanchez

Quote:

Who does he model himself on?

"When I was young it was (Iker) Casillas. But now (David) De Gea is my role model. He is where I want to get to in five or six years. It will be difficult because that's at the top."


Given they were/are Spain's No1s he'd probably want to play for Spain if given the choice. Probably the right choice too in fairness.

 

[Eeyore]

Agree it depends on a lot of things. In Spain there is currently a young Swedish/Spanish player. Both his parents are Swedish but as they've been living in Spain for a long time with no intention to move, they thought it was better to teach the kid Spanish. Now he made his debut a couple of weeks ago in the Spanish cup and there's some talk about him maybe getting called up to the Swedish U19 national team. But he doesnt know a word Swedish, never lived here and probably not visited more than a couple of times. Despite his two parents being Swedish, I dont feel he is necessarily "more Swedish" than some bloke who moved here from Iran or something as a kid and now speaks fluent Swedish.

So indeed its a lot about circumstances, every case is different.

As for the rule, there is one like that. It changed recently to be a little bit more lenient:

The FIFA Congress 2020 this week voted to pass changes to eligibility for national teams. The biggest changes mean that players are no longer tied to a national team on the basis of a single appearance when they were younger.

Players can now switch national teams provided they were eligible to represent a second country at the time they first played for their first country, even if they have played in an official competition for the first nation.

This applies so long as they have played no more than three matches (including friendlies), none of the matches were in the final tournament of the FIFA World Cup or confederation competition, and they all happened before the player turned 21.

Its a great rule and I think football is maybe the only sports where it exists.

So that German lad that they're on about at Munich can play for both England and Germany then decide which one he enjoyed the most

 

[Dick Head]

That's the first time I have seen a different expression on his face.

 

[clapham_gull]

Not ‘silly’ at all, if anything your Johnson analogy is ridiculous, he spent three months in New York after his birth before his English parents returned to the UK, he was never a US national, talk about clutching at straws, and as for bringing race into it, do me a favour! Sanchez is about as English as the Vunipola brothers who play rugby for England or Jaco van der Walt who plays for Scotland. It’s obviously a subjective debate, but Sanchez for England, not for me.

You need to do your homework. They did return to England, but went back soon after again to live there. His younger brother was born there too.

The Johnson only settled permanently in the UK when he was five. As for "never being a US national", he retained his citizenship and even paid taxes to the USA government, such is the law for "overseas" citizens.

After being hit with a tax bill for the sale of his UK house, he threatened to renounce. The USA reminded him that renouncing doesn't mean he didn't owe the bill.

Boris paid up and gave up his passport in 2015.

If he hadn't he could have technically moved back to the USA, waited 14 years and run for President. Arnold Schwarzenegger has been a US citizen since 1974 but can never run.

Clutching at straws Behave.

 

[Iggle Piggle]

According to this Argus article from a few years ago, his biggest goalkeeping heroes are Iker Casillas and David De Gea:

https://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/15...e-albions-new-kid-on-the-block-robert-sanchez

Quote:

Who does he model himself on?

"When I was young it was (Iker) Casillas. But now (David) De Gea is my role model. He is where I want to get to in five or six years. It will be difficult because that's at the top."


Given they were/are Spain's No1s he'd probably want to play for Spain if given the choice. Probably the right choice too in fairness.

Whilst there is logic in what you say, I'd counter that with the comment below that no one has ever heard

"I model myself on Jo Hart. I want to bang the floor in frustration when the ball goes in, play the odd Europa game and have my own Head and Shoulders advert"

English keepers have been poor for years.

 

[SeagullinExile]

I see the Argus is reporting that he has ambitions to play for Spain today. I think that may answer the original question.

 

[schmunk]

I see the Argus is reporting that he has ambitions to play for Spain today.

He'll be lucky, they don't have a game on.

 

[Papa Lazarou]

He'll be lucky, they don't have a game on.

Boom tish.

 

[SeagullinExile]

He'll be lucky, they don't have a game on.

OK, OK.....I think you get what I mean!

 

[warmleyseagull]

He'll be lucky, they don't have a game on.

Think he meant Tiddleywinks.

 

[Springal]

Been called up as 1 of 3 keepers in the Spain squad

 

[Hugo Rune]

Been called up as 1 of 3 keepers in the Spain squad

Good for him. He's realised quickly that Southgate's seagulls blind-spot automatically disqualifies him for consideration for the England team.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Good for him. He's realised quickly that Southgate's seagulls blind-spot automatically disqualifies him for consideration for the England team.

.....and I’m led to believe he doesn’t have a UK passport so can’t play for England even if he wanted to.

 

[Chicken Run]

Good luck to the young man, and if it helps his career all the better for us!

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

Been called up as 1 of 3 keepers in the Spain squad

That's absolutely fantastic news!

What an incredible five or six months he's had.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

That's absolutely fantastic news!

What an incredible five or six months he's had.

Incredible indeed. And totally deserved. I was listening to u23 goalkeeping coach on the Albion Roar last week...must be quite a moment for him as well.

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

Incredible indeed. And totally deserved. I was listening to u23 goalkeeping coach on the Albion Roar last week...must be quite a moment for him as well.

Yes, you're right. It's easily overlooked but a huge amount of credit must go to the Albion backroom staff and goalkeeping coaches. It must be a proud moment for all of them.

That's Connolly, Alzate and Sanchez that have gone through the development programme(to varying degrees) into the first team and then onto senior international football.