Apparently, Paulo De Canio now qualifies to play for England based on residency as he has never represented Italy!

If this is legit I'd grab him - every other country uses the qualification rules to their advantage so why shouldn't we? He'd look tasty on the left-wing in a white shirt, especially against Italy!

-- Anonymous, January 13, 2002

Answers

Aye, he'd be a canny player for England, albeit a bit of a strange accent.

However, Paulo is a more English name than Rio or Sol

-- Anonymous, January 13, 2002

Thats true Paul(o)

-- Anonymous, January 13, 2002

One for Softie this as I am not into stats, this one DID interest me however, during his time at West Ham, canny lad has been resposible for 42% of goals and assists they have accrued. For a 33 year old, tempermental, mercurial player, playing in a average premier team,I find these stats amazing, intersting to judge say Solanos % over the same period, might find myself with egg all over.

-- Anonymous, January 13, 2002

I think the man personifies professionalism, he's a little eccentric but wtf, if we can have someone called Le Saux then why no De Cannylad.

-- Anonymous, January 13, 2002

Personally I'm against it, genius that he is. If we won something with him in the team , we'd never hear the end of it!

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

.....who cares?

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

I do Al, only cos I'm in a company full of Italians and they would forever go on about England only winning with an Italian in the team.. and one who wasn't good enough to play for Italy, too.

Seriously though, I wouldn't want it. A premiership full of foreigners is one thing, but there are limits. A national side should be just that, proper Nationals. I actually think Ireland have pushed the boundaries too far as it is, and wouldn't like us to do the same. It would be a sad reflection on our game.

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

Virtually everyone does it nick - Holland, Spain, Germany. Not sure about France and Italy.

The rules are there to act as clear guidelines, and we should use them accordingly or allow others to gain an unreasonable advantage. Are you happy with Owen Hargreaves playing for England - similar issue, but he has an English sounding name that makes it seem less contrived.

Philosophically, I agree with you and believe the current rules are wrong - you should only be allowed to play for the country of your birth, or that of your parents. However the rules are the rules......

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

Yeah - as I was writing the last posting I was contemplating Owen Hargreaves, but thought he is unlikely to claim a regular place, and I couldn't quite recall the details surrounding his background. I think we're in broad agreement here, but I do think DiCanny Lad in an England shirt would be taking the piss rather, irrespective of his qualifying credentials.

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

I see absolutely no problem with people qualifying for international status by residency. In fact I think that it's a much fairer system than that currently employed. It also has the potential to break down racial prejudice. Are you only English if you or your parents are born in Englan? If you only allow representation of a country by birth or parental birth, where would that leave people like Shaola, or John Barnes for that matter?

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

Nick - I see that there are inconsistencies in my approach, and haven't really given the time required for a full, dedicated look at how it can be resolved. However I see your point about Barnes, but then talk to the man and he IS English. His speech, demeanour and attitudes are very English (and yes, I do know his background). But Dicannio - ain't no way he's anything but Italian. Racist? Perhaps, but that's exactly what International football is - one 'race' against another; one country, and all it stands for, against another.

That to me is the beauty of the international game, that it is ITALIANS or GERMANS against the English. I don't want a situation where we can get a Pele, Maradona or Cruyff just cos they'd lived in Scunthorpe for a few years. I want to win - or not - with English lads and not some international mercenaries. A simple view. I know. Doesn't make it wrong though?

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

Re France and Italy. A large proportion of the French world cup wiining side were born outside France. Can't think of any Italian footballers, but Fiona May, the athlete, was an England youth champion before deciding to compete for Italy after nationalisation.

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

Pete, I understand that the French guys were born in an old French 'colony' and held french passports, and French was their first language in most cases. (disclaimer : I may be wrong about this!) Therefore I can separate this from the DiCanio example. I know, I know, where do you draw the line etc.

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

Nick, it's not 'race' vs 'race'. Who can define what English is, or for that matter what French, German or Italian is. There are huge regional differences in most countries and, this coupled with immigration, means that we can't define what a race is. i live in Scotland and many of the Nationalist up here talk about how much they hate the English, but then temper it by saying, except those from the North of England. Who are the English? It's country vs country and the only way that you can define country is by residency, not by genetic or racial characteristics.

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

Your having a cracking debate with yersell there bonny lad - even disagreeing wi' yersell at one point!

Aal this success is definitely not good fer ya! ;o{]

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

I agree with Nick.

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

Just who is this Nick@Hotmail? And of all the nicks in the world, how did HE get to Hotmail first?

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

Ireland got to play an Italian in recent years - name that player ...

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

Henry Mancini

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2002

tony Cascarino was for a time the most-capped player for Ireland (and almost their top scorer) , and didn't actually qualify under the rules.

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2002

yes, but he did have an Irish setter

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2002

England have more chance of winning with Di Cannio playing than with out and for me it is irrelevant whether he is Italian (by birth) or not. If he qualifies, he qualifies.

Imagine the space for Dyer and/or Scholes to run into, once Di Canny lad has pulled his marker all over the place.

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2002

So, does this all mean that kegsy's eligible for Japan in this year's World Cup?

Maybe if "he pulls his marker all over the place"!?

;7)

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2002

If DiCanio did say he would make himself available for England, would you put him straight into the team anyone? Can't remember ANY of us on this site over the past 2 years going on and on about how wonderful he is.

In fact,'overrated and volatile' are the words that ring a bell for me, though that may be selective memory.

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2002

I dunno Bud, I will have to give monsieur troussier a call. I wonder if he needs an over weight Englishman with a dodgy knee? Having said that I am due to be playing again in April that means I've got 2 months to get fit. Nee problem.

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2002

Dodgy knee...nee problem, gan canny!

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2002