Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/188841
27 Sport maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 9 OCTOBER 2013 OPINION The eligibility issue great plan. They want to compete for the World Cup in 2022 and in order to achieve that the new home of football St George's Park was built. They want to create the very best in English talent in a league which is packed with foreigners. The centre is built by the English for the English, so surely Januzaj does not belong there. Playing him would send out the wrong message as young England hopefuls would feel discouraged at the fact that even at international level their place might be pipped by a man who just works and pays taxes in the country. England want to match the ability of Spain and Germany which have used that tactic in the past. The German national team is jam-packed with "non-Germans" and I use this term lightly. Many of them are second generation immigrants, hailing from Poland or Turkey. Names like Miroslav Klose, Lukas (Podolski) Mesut Ozil, Khedira are or were regular starters for the German team and look at the heights that nation has risen to over the years. Spain's Marcos Senna is another example. Born and raised in Brazil the midfielder went on to win the European Championship in 2008 for Spain. England midfielder Owen Hargreaves was born in Canada, raised in Germany but played by England. In his case however one of his parents is English, granting him a passport and the right to represent his country. Mo Farah is another perfect exam- Mark Strijbosch IF Adnan Januzaj's two goals for Manchester United were vitally important for David Moyes, they also had extra significance for the world of football and the FA. 18 year old Januzaj was born and raised in Belgium, and has trained for United for two years. His parents are Albanian, Grandparents Turkish and there is also a hint of Serbian blood in him. He is the ultimate product of globalisation and since he plays in the United Kingdom and has never kicked an international ball before, young Adnan might be the answer to England's struggles in midfield. The man has no English blood yet we have Roy Hodgson confiming the FA have contacted him about representing the Three Lions. Representing a country he has nothing to do with. Cleverly enough Januzaj has kept his cards close to his chest, revealing only that he will play for a country that will guarantee him starting line ups. This is an international mercenary who just wants to play football, so why exactly are England knocking on his door? Two goals on his debut would be enough to attract anyone's attention, however let me remind you of the FA's David Moyes gives instructions to Adnan Januzaj ple. Born in Somalia, Farah runs for England and is the current Olympic champion for the 10,000m and 5000m marathons. He won those medals for England, a country he moved to when he was just eight years old. His father, Mukhtar Farah is British, and therefore makes him eligible to run for England. In Adnan Januzaj's case his parents are both non British and in my opinion that makes him illegible to play for England, no matter how des- perate they might be for a youngster of his talent. England is a football mad nation of over 40 million people, surely they do not need to be picking players who are not from England. The league is one of the most popular in the world, if not the most popular, and yet the national team struggles to get past through the group stages on the international tournaments. Fielding foreigners is certainly not the answer here. What you need is players who are passionate to play for your country and not people in need of game time. Januzaj needs to ask himself where his heart is, whether it is Belgium, the country that gave him a childhood, or Albania, the country which gave him life. England should be far from his mind and he will better apply himself where his heart is due to the passion players feel while representing their countries in any sport. Pursuits Across 1. Severe (7) 4. Easily broken (7) 8. Boat having sails (7,4) 12. Harvest (4) 13. Travel from place to place (4) 14. Glum (5) 15. Sycophant (3-3) 17. Sacred song (5) 22. Wife of one's uncle (4) 23. Alcoholic drink (5) 24. Exclamations of surprise (4) 25. Surrounded by (5) 28. Conflict (6) 30. Friendly (5) 32. Ripped (4) 34. Become roused from sleep (4) 35. Born under the sign of Sagittarius (11) 38. Narrative (7) 39. Radiators (7) Sudoku Sudoku rules are extremely easy: Fill all empty squares so that the numbers 1 to 9 appear once in each row, column and 9x9 box. Answers to the MaltaToday crossword will be published next Wednesday Last week's solution Chess Today's Weather 8 8 WEATHER: 7 6 4 3 5 Northerly force 3 becoming force 3 to 4 in the afternoon SEA: 5 Good WIND: 6 Partly coudy VISIBILITY: 7 Moderate SWELL: Low Southeast 2 1 4 A 3 2 1 A B C D E F G H White to play and mate in four moves B C Bxh7+ Kh8 Bg6+ Kg8 Qh7+ Kf8 Qxf7++ D E F G H CLOUDY 26ºC / 20ºC UV INDEX: 5 SEA TEMP: 25 °C Down 1. Store that sells milk products (5) 2. Lather (4) 3. Unwell (3) 5. Steal from (3) 6. Midge (4) 7. Supporter of extreme practices (9) 8. Identical (4) 9. Metallic element (4) 10. Increased in size (4) 11. Garment of ancient Rome (4) 14. Perhaps (5) 16. Glossy (5) 18. Begin (5) 19. Large hairy spider (9) 20. Plant (3) 21. Rot (5) 26. Rowing implements (4) 27. Sharp to the taste (4) 28. Second letter of the Greek alphabet (4) 29. Something lent (4) 31. Chairs (5) 33. Western pact (4) 34. Skin growth (4) 36. Tavern (3) 37. Cereal grass (3)