Is this the REAL reason these three players have been called up to England?
With the team having come so close to Euro 2024 glory just months ago, new England boss Lee Carsley might have been expected to keep it simple when naming his first senior Three Lions squad.
But the formerEvertonmidfielder, who was given the interim head coach gig afterGareth Southgatewaved goodbye this summer, mixed it up a bit with his selections. Welcome to the stage:Tino Livramento,Noni MaduekeandAngel Gomes, a trio that may not have been on the tips of fans’ tongues when awaiting the announcement. They’ll be joining the rest of the squad to face theRepublic of IrelandandFinlandin theNations League.
“He’s very honest and direct in his approach.” 👊@agomes_47 on what it’s like to work with our interim head coach Lee Carsley… pic.twitter.com/KM2zev84PfSeptember 4, 2024
If any of the three get on to the pitch for this Nations League double-header, it would represent their first senior England cap. In an age where dual nationality is commonplace and switching between national teams is easier than ever before, this could be important.
Players can switch allegiances if they have ancestral, birth or citizenship ties to a country other than their first nation, but FIFA rules dictate that they can only swap if they appeared no more than three times for their original country before the age of 21. In short, with Livramento, Madueke and Gomes all now 21 or older, a single appearance for England in these games would tie them to the Three Lions.
That’s significant because the trio all have access to play for other nations, despite all being born in London.
Aside from England, Livramento is eligible forPortugalthrough his father andScotlandthrough his mother, Madueke could turn out forNigeriaand Gomes can pick between Portugal andAngola.
Carsley, as Under-21s boss, has seen all three of these players pass through the youth ranks at St George Park and knows what they’re capable of. Could tying them down to England have been Carsley’s motivation?
Although it’s a welcome bonus to confirm them as definite options going forward, they all make their way to the England camp on merit, after putting together admirable seasons for their respective clubs. Midfield maestro Gomes has just come off the back of a 31-appearance season inLigue 1which saw him provide eight assists towardsLille’s respectable fourth-placed finish.
Back in thePremier League, Madueke has managed to truly breakthrough into a bulgingChelseaside and just last month netted aCole Palmer-supplied hat-trick against Wolves. Livramento has done similar atNewcastle, becoming a regular feature ofEddie Howe’s backline despite his young years, and played a key role in the Magpies’Champions Leagueadventure last term.
All three have earned the attention they’ve received from Carsley, but it certainly won’t harm to have them available to call up in years to come.
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