I think the point would be Kosovo didn't exist when he made his Switzerland debut?we would need to check that one. I see no reason why if a country adopts him and his family that he wouldn't give back.
Kosovo didn't exist (as a country) until 2013 and didn't get fifa recognition until 2014. Its not a full UN member as Serbia refuses to recognise its independence and persists with its claim over Kosovo. This is very much a China-Taiwan situation. Shaqiri moved to Switerland when he was 3 and came through Basel's youth system. So he's just as much Swiss and Kosovo, playing for Switzerland at every youth level.
So he made his choice long before there was any hope of playing for Kosovo? Fair enough then. Sane as being at Bayern. He has had it good and been well treated. If he misses two games for Switzerland as a result of a hand gesture he should feel very very silly.
No, he was born in the Countess of Chester hospital [same as my niece] but grew up in Hawarden which is Flintshire [Wales]. All of Chester is in England, the west of the city is the national boundary though.
I think we're basically discussing semantics here. The actual city of Chester lies in England but the urban areas surrounding it do extend into Wales. (As the urban areas surrounding Liverpool and Manchester overflow into parts of Cheshire even if the official city boundaries do not). Essentially though, he lived his childhood in Wales, barely crossed the border to be born in a hospital in England, but could definitely have been eligible for Wales considering he spent his entire childhood in Wales and his parents home address was Welsh when he was born. He even kept a home in Wales for most of his adult life. I know his father is English, but Owen could for all intents and purposes be considered Welsh due to that being where he grew up and spent most of his life. I'm sure when Owen chose England, he did so, more because England were the bigger team and less because he was superficially born in a hospital in England a few miles across the border. If Wales were the bigger team I bet Owen would have chosen Wales. Owen certainly proved to be a bit of a mercenary and glory Hunter during most of his career.
Here's what he said about that - "It was never going to be possible for me to go on and represent Wales at senior level because there's no trace of Welsh blood in me. I'm English, with Scottish ancestry on my dad's side. I always try to make that clear to people who may wonder whether I turned my back on Wales."
Surely it's the official city boundaries that are the salient factor here, urban sprawl notwithstanding? As far as I'm aware, jb is correct, Chester is wholly in England. The western border of the county of Cheshire is the border with Wales.
The city of Chester is actually on the Wales boundary line. I hope Milk doesn't try and tell the residents they have ''overflowed'' into Wales.
... Sure he says that, but I think he's just trying to make himself look good and not a traitor. He said something about loving Liverpool and wanting to return one day on leaving the club.. Yet he refused to push for a move to us over Newcastle (he could have refused Newcastle) and a few years after that was kissing the badge of Liverpool's main rivals. Owen's motives are not ruled by sentimentality or loyalty but by self aggrandizement. Regarding blood: There are plenty of people in England who are English that have completely African or Asian ancestry and no "English" blood. Who could be considered English. Over half of France's team wouldn't have had a single ancestor living in France 100 years ago so don't have "French" blood. "Blood" certainly doesn't bother most footballers and Owen isn't exactly one of the more noble players. You may call me a cynic, but Owen picking England had more to do with England being the bigger team than it had to do with having ancestors from England. I say he is most likely lying about his motives. He grew up in Wales, when he was of age and financial wherewithal to move... He decided to continue to live in Wales and bought houses not just for himself but his family members in Wales ... He clearly considers Wales to be home.
Yes, and he didn't grow up in Chester, he grew up in Flintshire, Wales on the outskirts of Chester. He didn't grow up in Chester itself. If he had he would have been in England, which he wasn't. Which is entirely my point. He was in Wales.
Isn't Chester the pub quiz question? "Which English club pays their football in Wales?" Pitch is in Wales but 'front door' in England ...?
Lots of people on the Welsh side of the border live there and work in Chester or other towns in Cheshire. I personally knew some of them. For lots of people in that region Chester is the nearest city hub for business, shopping and entertainment.
A small sliver just outside the marked area of the pitch is in England too. It's possible to take a throw in when in England into the field that is in Wales. So technically could throw the ball as an assist from one country and have the goal scored in another.
I don't know this might work: At what stadium can one throw the ball from the sidelines onto a pitch in another country?
Living in Wales plays no part in qualifying for that country even if he went there the day after he was born and continued to live there. He was born in England as were both parents and all his grandparents which means he can only play for England. You can't call an entirely different country as being on the outskirts of a neighbouring city. That's almost like saying France is on the outskirts of Barcelona. I agree with what you've said about him being a mercenary btw.
Liverpool can reportedly seal the transfer of Real Madrid attacking midfielder Marco Asensio following reports of a bid for the Spain international. This would be a stunning deal for the Reds if they could pull it off, with Asensio widely regarded for some time now as one of the biggest young talents in the game. Mundo Deportivo recently reported that Liverpool had made something of a shock bid for the 22-year-old worth as much as £158million. This would smash their current transfer record (£75m for Virgil van Dijk, according to BBC Sport) by a long way, but it could be that they could land him for less than that.
