Michael Maynard – Sports Columnist
England’s 4-2 defeat at the hands of Sweden in a recent Soccer international friendly will be remembered for Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s wonder strike which had punters crowing about witnessing the greatest goal in the history of football. But the match was eye-catching for other reasons.
Two players made their debut for the English national team who were born overseas and who remain eligible to play for their country of origin.
I expect Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling, who was born in Jamaica and Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha in the Ivory Coast, to be receiving copious long distance calls over the coming months as the football authorities in their country of birth try to persuade them to turn their back on the Three Lions.
Sterling, in particular, has been a revelation for his club and was impressive in his rookie start for England. Bought by the Anfield outfit for £600,000 rising to £5 million from Queens Park Rangers in 2010, the 17 year-old – if he fulfils his potential – will be an asset to any international team. But I want to see football develop a more level playing field at international level. The Caribbean region will only improve its ratings if players like Sterling suit up for the country of their birth.
Raheem Sterling. Photo courtesy guardian.co.uk
Those of us old enough to remember Jamaica’s “Reggae Boyz” magnificent achievement in becoming the first English speaking Caribbean nation to reach the World Cup Finals in 1998 can reminisce about the new razzamatazz, panache and colour they brought with them to France. More importantly, they placed Caribbean football on the international map and raised the hopes and expectations of a generation.
Sterling is a superstar in the making and his moneymen will be lobbying hard for him to commit to his adopted country, because of the likelihood of receiving more lucrative endorsement deals. Although this assertion clearly hasn’t hurt the earning potential of players like Manchester United’s Ryan Giggs, who played for Wales.
Jamaica Reggae Boyz
Additionally, in turning out for Jamaica a maturing Sterling, who came to live in London aged six, can expect the team to be built around him.
This will not be the case if he continues to pull on the white jersey of England, whose record on accommodating the more gifted player is questionable.
John Barnes, who like Sterling was born in Jamaica and played for Liverpool, opted to play for his adopted country. Barnes played 79 times for England and scored what I consider the goal of the century for the national team against Brazil in the Maracana in 1984. But Barnes was never allowed the freedom to play his natural game at international level. He later argued that England’s tactics were too “rigid”.
John Barnes. Photo courtesy guardian.co.uk
I fear Sterling’s career will suffer a similar fate if he commits to England; with his match winning instinct being surrendered to tactical dogma. The result is that Sterling, like Barnes, will find himself out of the national starting eleven as often as he’s in it.
Of course it will be down to Sterling and his family to decide which country will hold sway. I just feel if he opts for Jamaica he will be more rather than less likely to be the global superstar he has the potential to become.
