What do you make of players changing international teams?
The rules state it is now possible for a player to change national team even if they have played competitively at senior level, provided:
- the player held the nationality of their new association at the time of their first official appearance for their first national team.
- the player played in no more than three competitive senior games before the age of 21.
- the player has not played in the final stage of an official tournament such as the World Cup, European Championship, Copa America etc.
- at least three years have passed since the player’s last senior appearance for their previous national team.
Do you think this is right that a player can play for more than one national team or does it devalue the national jersey? Recent players that come to mind are the likes of Declan Rice (potentially the most controversial), Wilfred Zaha and Franco Vázquez among others.
It depends on the circumstances but most the time it isn’t good. Generally most people know what their nationality is and what country they identify with. Playing for a different country whose language you don’t even speak because one of your grandparents was from there isn’t right and is depriving someone who is really from that country their spot in the squad. Eg: Matty Cash. Players like Musiala are different though because he has very strong ties to both England and Germany having lived in both for years whilst growing up and being fluent in both Languages so it makes sense that he can pick either England or Germany.