Thereโs been a lot of talk about Arsenalโs star little midfielder this week, and the fact that Jack Wilshere has been having his say back has only added fuel to the fire.
You will remember earlier this week, when Wilshere apologized for being caught smoking a cigarette outside a London club.
But now the England international has waded into the deep and murky waters of nationality and which players should represent the Three Lions. Wilshereโs allowed his opinion, but many believe heโs now getting way out of his depth.
Quotes began to trickle through that the 21-year-old midfielder is all for keeping the English national team only for players born within the tiny confides of the Island nation. This was in reference to the huge debate erupting over which country Manchester Unitedโs new 18-year-old whizkid Adnan Januzaj can represent after England contacting Untied about the Belgian born wingers eligibility.
โIf you live in England for five years it doesnโt make you English. The only people who should play for England are English people,โ Wilshere said. โIf I went to Spain and lived there for five years, Iโm not going to play for Spain.โ
(MORE: Jack Wilshere sparks debate: Should Adnan Januzaj be allowed to play for England?)
He has a point, and despite the British media and plenty of others jumping on Wilshereโs comments as nationalistic and emanating an uncompromising attitude, the young English star spoke about what it means to be an English soccer player and how that relates to national identity.
โWe have to remember what we are. We are English. We tackle hard, are tough on the pitch and are hard to beat. We have great characters. You think of Spain and you think technical but you think of England and you think they are brave and they tackle hard. We have to remember that.โ
Many took that as Wilshere talking against Januzajโs inclusion in any forthcoming England squads, but he wasnโt. By no means is Wilshere talking out against any players who want to play for a country other than the one theyโre born in. He was just trying to speak same sanity in a situation that has clearly got out of hand over the past few years, with many players changing their international allegiance without batting an eyelid.
(MORE: Wilshere watch, itโs becoming an international break tradition in England)
Letโs cut this guy some slack, heโs had a rough week and people are jumping down his throat at every opportunity. Following the โsmoking incidentโ Wilshereโs commitment is being called into question, but many are forgetting that heโs one of Englandโs finest talents and he should be protected, not lambasted for being outspoken and doing a few things wrong here and there. Okay, a few days after being caught smoking was probably not the best time to be having interviewsโฆ But arenโt people always yearning to have more colorful characters and opinionated individuals in soccer?
And just to prove Wilshere isnโt harboring any strong feelings against Unitedโs Januzaj, which is ridiculous to suggest in the first place, the midfield fire-cracker Tweeting the following on Wednesday. Get over bashing WIlshere, and let his feet do the talking.
