See the tweets as England international cricketer Kevin Pietersen argues with Wilshere over his views on English nationality and who should be allowed to play for the national team.
After being caught smoking last week, Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere seems to have an opinion about everything.
Since Adnan Januzaj’s storming first start for Manchester United that saw him grab 2 goals against lowly Sunderland, there has been much talk about the possibility of the youngster being called-up to the senior England squad, despite a number of countries being able to stake their claim to the player.
Januzaj was born in Brussels to Kosovan-Albanian parents and is reportedly eligible to represent Belgium, Albania, Turkey, Serbia and Kosovo.
Fifa statutes rule that a player is eligible to play for a country if he has “lived continuously for at least five years after reaching the age of 18 in the territory of the relevant association” – which means Januzaj, already based somewhere in the vicinity of Manchester, would have to wait until he is 23 in 2018 before being able to represent England.
On Friday Wilshere told reporters:
No, for me, if you are English, you are English, and you play for England.
The only people who should play for England are English people.
If you’ve lived in England for five years, for me, it doesn’t make you English. You shouldn’t play. It doesn’t mean you can play for that country.
If I went to Spain and lived there for five years, I’m not going to play for Spain.
For me an English player should play for England really.
Not for the first time in the past couple of weeks, Wilshere felt victimised by the British press and sought to clarify his comments.
Just to clarify a few things….again! Seems to be a trend in this country, poor journalism in my eyes! I wasn't referring to Janujaz…
— Jack Wilshere (@JackWilshere) October 9, 2013
The question was should foreign players be allowed to play for England, and in my opinion I don't think they should! He is a great player…
— Jack Wilshere (@JackWilshere) October 9, 2013
I wish he was English! I'm sure most of you agree with me even if some journalist are trying to make me look bad….again!
— Jack Wilshere (@JackWilshere) October 9, 2013
To be clear, never said 'born in England' – I said English people should play for England.
— Jack Wilshere (@JackWilshere) October 9, 2013
And now England batsman Kevin Pietersen MBE, who was born in South Africa but has an English mother, has challenged the 21-year-old midfielder on his views.
See the tweets as cricketer Kevin Pietersen argues with Wilshere over his views on English nationality below:
.@JackWilshere -interested to know how you define foreigner…? Would that include me, Strauss, Trott, Prior, Justin Rose, Froome, Mo Farah?
— Kevin Pietersen (@KP24) October 9, 2013
@KP24 With all due respect Mr Pietersen the question was about Football! Cricket, cycling, Athletics is not my field!
— Jack Wilshere (@JackWilshere) October 9, 2013
.@JackWilshere same difference.. It's about representing your country! IN ANY SPORT!
— Kevin Pietersen (@KP24) October 9, 2013
Great respect for people like KP, Mo Farah and Wilf Zaha – they make the country proud.
— Jack Wilshere (@JackWilshere) October 9, 2013
My view on football – going to a new country when ur an adult, & because u can get a passport u play 4 that national team – I disagree
— Jack Wilshere (@JackWilshere) October 9, 2013
Just saying my opinion, everyone is entitled to theirs. Can't wait for Friday night…
— Jack Wilshere (@JackWilshere) October 9, 2013
Want more Wilshere?