WILFRIED ZAHA and Jack Grealish could meet on the pitch at Wembley next week – but both players could easily be wearing national shirts of other countries.
The two stars may go head-to-head when England take on Ivory Coast in a friendly.
Wilfried Zaha will be hoping to down England at Wembley next week with Ivory CoastCredit: GettyThe best XI of players to swap nationalities during their career, includes some superstar names
But those two men are not the only ones to have represented their countries and later switched allegience.
In fact, some of the greatest players on the planet – past and present have done the same.
Players can swap nations if they are under the age of 21 and have featured in no more than three competitive games.
The rules haven’t always been so strict though, with many big-name players switching allegiances down the years.
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GOALKEEPER – Asmir Begovic
Asmir Begovic swapped Canada for Bosnia & Herzegovina despite growing up in North AmericaCredit: Reuters
Born in Bosnia & Herzegovina, Begovic and his family moved to Canada when he was ten years old.
The Everton goalkeeper played 11 times for Canada’s Under-20s and looked set to break into their senior side.
But in 2009, Begovic opted to play for the country of his birth – and has earned 63 cap since.
DEFENDER – Victor Moses
Victor Moses switched allegiance to Nigeria after failing to break into the England senior sideCredit: Getty
Born in Nigeria and raised in London, Moses played for England’s Under-162, U17s, U19s and U21s.
But he gave up on a spot in the senior side and switched to the nation of his birth in 2012, where he has won 37 caps.
And he helped them to African Cup of Nations glory in 2013.
DEFENDER – Neven Subotic
Neven Subotic was eligible to play for Bosnia & Herzegovina, USA or Serbia – but opted for the latterCredit: Action Images – Reuters
Subotic was born in Bosnia & Herzegovina (then Yugoslavia) but grew up in the USA, playing for their Under-17s and U20s.
In 2008, he opted to play for Serbia – for whom he qualified through Bosnian-Serb parents – and played 36 times.
DEFENDER – Declan Rice
Declan Rice won three caps for Ireland before swapping to England, where he is now a regular starterCredit: Sportsfile – Subscription
Rice famously won three caps for Ireland in 2018 having worked his way through the youth teams thanks to his grandparents being Irish.
But he controversially switched to England the next year.
The London-born star proved where his heart lies by playing a key role in last year’s run to the final of Euro 2020.
And he will be hoping to add to his 27 caps when the Three Lions face Switzerland Ivory Coast.
CENTRE-MID – Thiago Motta
Thiago Motta turned his back on Brazil to turn out for ItalyCredit: Reuters
The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star was born in Brazil but qualified for Italy thanks to the grandfather on his father’s side.
After playing twice for Brazil in the 2003 Gold Cup, Motta later switched allegiance to play for Italy EIGHT years later.
Motta won 30 caps for Italy and was part of their 2014 World Cup and Euro 2016 squads.
RIGHT-WING – Wilfried Zaha
Wilfried Zaha played for England’s senior side in a friendly against Sweden but never made a competitive appearance and opted to play for Ivory CoastCredit: Getty Images – Getty
After working his way through England’s Under-17s and U20s teams, Zaha made his full England debut in a friendly against Sweden in 2012, replacing fellow debutant Raheem Sterling.
But after dropping down the pecking order, Zaha switched to turn out for Ivory Coast at the 2017 African Cup of Nations, earning 20 caps to date.
Ex-Three Lions boss Roy Hodgson – Zaha’s boss at Palace for the past four years – later admitted he regretted not playing the winger in a competitive game to tie him to England, despite giving him his debut vs Sweden.
Now he will be looking to down England next week.
ATTACKING-MIDFIELD – Michel Platini
France legend Michel Platini played once for Kuwait following his retirementCredit: Getty – Contributor
Having scored 41 times in 72 games for France, helping them win the 1984 Euros, Platini hung up his boots in 1987.
But he came out of retirement to bizarrely play for Kuwait in a friendly against the Soviet Union in 1988, playing 21 minutes of the 2-0 defeat.
LEFT-WING – Jack Grealish
Jack Grealish worked his way through Ireland’s youth ranks before bursting into the England set upCredit: Corbis
Born in Birmingham, Grealish worked his way through the Irish youth teams thanks to his paternal grandparents and maternal grandfather coming from Ireland.
Despite playing six times for Ireland’s Under-21s, England poached him at the same level before the former Aston Villa captain made himself a crucial part of the Three Lions’ senior squad.
Now starring for Man City, Grealish is likely to be involved for England over the next week.
FORWARD – Alfredo Di Stefano
Alfredo Di Stefano represented three nations during his illustrious playing careerCredit: Getty – Contributor
Incredibly, the legendary Real Madrid striker player for Argentina, Colombia AND Spain during his illustrious career.
Di Stefano was born in Argentina and won six caps for them, before switching to Colombia and winning a further four caps.
Eight years later – and ten years after his final Argentina game – he won his first Spain cap – going on to score 23 times in 31 games.
FORWARD – Diego Costa
Diego Costa won two caps for Brazil before turning his back on them and representing SpainCredit: Getty Images – Getty
In 2013, during his second stint at Atletico Madrid, Costa earned two caps for his native Brazil.
But he immediately applied for Spanish citizenship and after it was approved in 2014 he went straight into the first-team.
Costa played for Spain at two World Cups scoring ten goals in 24 games in total.
FORWARD – Ferenc Puskas
Ferenc Puskas scored nearly a goal a game for Hungary in 85 caps before switching to SpainCredit: PA:Press Association
The former Real Madrid scoring machine as the Best Goal of the Year award named after.
He scored 84 times in 85 games for Hungary between 1945 and 1956.
But Puskas switched to Spain in 1961 in the middle of his time at Los Blancos, but failed to score in four caps.
