### A Legacy of Talent: England’s Euros Squad Highlights the Strength of Immigration
With another men’s Euros on the horizon, excitement is building for the Three Lions. Fans are hopeful that the men’s team can finally break their 58-year drought and bring home a major international trophy.
In the last men’s Euros, Best for Britain reported that half of England's 26-man squad could have played for other countries due to being born outside the UK or having parents or grandparents of different nationalities. This trend has only grown; the 2024 squad features 15 players eligible to represent other nations.
For instance, rising star Kobbie Mainoo, recently added to the squad, could have chosen to play for Ghana because of his Ghanaian mother. If England hadn't called him up in March 2024, he might have represented Ghana instead.
New additions to the squad include Ezri Konsa, who could play for the Democratic Republic of the Congo or Angola, reflecting his diverse heritage with a Congolese father and Angolan mother. In fact, five of the eight defenders selected for the men’s Euros are eligible to represent other countries. Alongside Konsa are Kyle Walker (Jamaica), Joe Gomez (Gambia), Marc Guehi (Ivory Coast), and Trent Alexander-Arnold (USA).
These defenders collectively have 138 international caps, equaling the combined caps of England legends John Terry (78 caps), Jamie Carragher (38 caps), and Lee Dixon (22 caps).
Many of England’s brightest talents, past and present, might not have had the opportunity to play for the national team if immigration laws were as strict as today's, such as those proposed in the Rwanda Bill by Rishi Sunak and his Tory colleagues.
Despite past successes in tournaments, continued hostility toward immigrants under the current government could limit England’s access to talented players in the future. Regardless of this tournament's outcome, we can be grateful for the exceptional talents representing us this summer.
Written by Eli Crossley, aged 17, while doing work experience at Best for Britain.
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