Premier League manager, Manchester City and United stars alongside Tottenham legend – Incredible XI that could have played for England

England boss Gareth Southgate will take immense pride in boasting one of the finest squads in world football.

But his star-studded side could have been boosted by a number of current high-profile players, who all chose to play elsewhere instead.

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While England managed to snatch Declan Rice and Jack Grealish away from Republic of Ireland, the Three Lions have had their fare share of players switch their international allegiances.

From a Manchester United midfielder to a striker who is currently leading the European Golden Boot race, England have been snubbed many times in recent years by players who had no interest in playing for them.

Although, one Premier League manager was so desperate to put on the England jersey that he was prepared to go to war with FIFA.

And one forward had even represented England twice before deciding to walk away from the senior set-up.

Here talkSPORT.com takes a look at the best XI of players that have gotten away from England.

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Kasper Schmeichel – GK

Despite not being born in England, the Denmark international grew up in Manchester where his dad Peter played for United between 1991-1999, making the goalkeeper eligible to feature for the Three Lions.

The ex-Leicester star was on the radar of the FA in 2007, but Kasper only had eyes on representing the Red and Whites.

Speaking at the time, United legend Peter said: “Kasper is Danish. He has absolutely no chance of playing for England and the discussion should stop now.

“England is for English people, Kasper was born Danish, all his family is Danish and there is nothing that can make him English. If you ask him he says ‘I’m Danish and I play for Denmark.’”

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Schmeichel never waivered in his desire to represent Denmarl[/caption]

Matty Cash – RB

The Aston Villa man has cemented himself as one of the top right-backs in the Premier League since the Villans were promoted in 2020.

But unfortunately for the 25-year-old, his path into the Three Lions set-up was blocked with right-backs Kyle Walker, Kieran Tripper, Reece James and Trent Alexander-Arnold all preferred instead by Southgate.

After repeatedly being overlooked, Cash applied for a Polish passport in 2021, which was granted as he qualifies through his mother and late grandfather, who was born in Poland. 

He has since become Poland’s first choice option, where he played in four World Cup matches, and now calls superstar Robert Lewandowski a teammate.

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Cash made his Poland debut in 2021 after being granted citizenship[/caption]

Antonee Robinson – LB

Robinson, who was born in Milton Keynes before coming through Everton’s academy, has starred for Fulham this season.

He has been a key player in helping the Cottagers sit ninth in the Premier League in their first season back in the top flight.

But the 25-year-old never set his sights on playing for England, as he instead longed to play for USA, where his father was raised.

After being an American international at youth level, he made his senior debut in 2018 where he has since scored twice in 33 caps.

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Wes Morgan – CB

Like Schmeichel, Morgan was part of the Leicester squad that won the Premier League title in the 2015/16 season, before winning the FA Cup together five years later.

Born and raised in Nottingham, Morgan spent his entire club career in England.

Then-England boss Roy Hodgson would have been keen to include Morgan in his squad as he helped the Foxes win their first top-flight title.

But Morgan had already switched his international allegiance to Jamaica in 2013, who he represented on 30 occasions.

Ashley Williams – CB

Born in the Midlands, Swansea legend Williams started his career off in the Southern League Premier Division with Hednesford Town, before joining the Swans in 2008 after a spell at Stockport Country.

And he helped the Welsh outfit climb from League One to the Premier League, with the club lifting the League Cup in 2013 – the club’s only major trophy.

By that time he was already a Wales international, having made his debut in 2008.

Williams, who would later play for Everton before his retirement in 2021, qualified to play for the Dragons through his grandfather.

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Former Wales skipper Williams scored twice in 86 appearances for the Dragons[/caption]

Scott McTominay – CM

The Manchester United midfielder elected to represent the country of his father in 2018 after choosing to play for Scotland.

Speaking at the time, McTominay said: “I wanted to play for Scotland — and I always have done, since I was a young boy, so it was an incredibly proud moment when he [then-Scotland manager Alex McLeish] did call me up.”

Former United and Scotland star Brian McClair revealed that Southgate had wanted McTominay in his England squad, but failed to show enough interest in him.

He told BBC: “Alex McLeish made a huge effort getting to [United’s training ground] Carrington to meet up with him, because it was in the middle of the bad weather that we had.

“He made it, put a case, Gareth Southgate sent him a text.”

One of Scotland’s most important players, the 26-year-old has racked up 37 caps.

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Mikel Arteta – CM

The Arsenal boss failed to break into Spain’s squad during his playing days with Xabi Alonso, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas and Sergio Busquets just some of the players ahead of him.

And despite the midfielder having no English heritage, the FA in 2010 believed he qualified to play for the Three Lions due to the five-year residency rule.

But FIFA ultimately rejected the FA’s request, with Arteta revealing to talkSPORT how he threatened to ‘go to war’ with football’s governing body over their decision.

Arteta, who left Everton in 2011 to join Arsenal, is considered one of the best players to have never played on the international stage.

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Jamal Musiala – AM

The Bayern Munich star chose to represent Germany – the country of his birth – despite being raised in England.

Born to a German mother and a British-Nigerian father, Musiala grew up in England from the age of seven, where he played in Southampton and Chelsea’s academy.

He even featured for England at Under-15, U16, U17 and U21 level, but decided to play for Germany’s senior side in 2021 after joining Bayern Munich in 2020.

Commenting on his decision, the 20-year-old said: “England is home for me. It is difficult to find words for what England means for me because I have so many memories connected to very positive emotions.

“I have a heart for Germany and a heart for England. Both hearts will keep on beating.

“In the end, I just listened to the feeling that over a long period of time kept telling me that it was the right decision to play for Germany, the land I was born in. Still, it wasn’t an easy decision for me.”

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Musiala has already racked up 20 appearances for Germany, despite only recently turning 20[/caption]

Gareth Bale – RW

How England fans would have loved seeing the Real Madrid and Tottenham legend slot in on the wing.

And the Welsh icon could have, as he was eligible to represent England due to his grandmother being English.

But the thought never entered his mind, as he instead ended up captaining Wales, where he fired them into Euro 2016 and Euro 2020.

He also proved pivotal in Wales ending their 64-year wait to feature in a World Cup as they made the group stages in Qatar, where he scored their only goal of the tournament.

Now retired at the age of 33, no Welsh player has made more than his 111 appearances, while Bale is also the country’s top scorer with 41 goals. A true Welsh dragon.

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Wilfried Zaha – LW

Having moved to England from Ivory Coast at the age of four, Zaha looked to be fully committed to only playing for the Three Lions.

He made two appearances for England’s senior side – both of which came in friendlies.

But having failed to play since 2013, he decided to represent the country of his birth with his England outings not coming in a competitive match.

Since donning the jersey of the Elephants, he has banged in five goals in 35 games.

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But after three years without a cap, he decided to play for his country of birth[/caption]

Erling Haaland – ST

The Manchester City goal machine could have been smashing them in for England instead of Norway where he could have formed a formidable partnership with Harry Kane up top.

Eligible having been born in England as a result of his dad Alfe-Inge playing for Leeds at the time, the 22-year-old never entertained the idea.

He had already broken into Norway’s national team in 2019 before he had become a household name after joining Borussia Dortmund the following year.

Speaking to Goal about the possibility of playing for England, Haaland said: “I lived here [England] for three-and-a-half, four years.

“But I lived in Norway for such a long time, so it was natural for me to choose Norway.

“You never know how it might have been if my father [Alf-Inge] had played longer in England, maybe I would be English! But I’m Norwegian, and I’m proud of it.”

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