Almunia's 3 Lions dream

• omgukilledkenny

  2 Sep 07, 16:55

  
  
  Keeper Manuel Almunia has a double goal - to be No.1 for Arsenal AND England.
  
  The Spaniard qualifies for British citizenship in 2009 and is eyeing a place in the national side.
  
  Almunia is back in the Arsenal first team because Jens Lehmann has an Achilles injury and is expected to be out for another fortnight.
  
  And after successive clean sheets against Manchester City in the Premier League and Sparta Prague in a Champions League qualifier, he believes he is ready to keep out Lehmann permanently.
  
  The 30-year-old will qualify for a British passport after five years in the UK and said: "It would be fantastic to play international football.
  
  "I feel at home in England - and if I play for this country I will try to go to the pubs more and eat fish and chips!
  
  "My Arsenal team-mate Eduardo is Brazilian but he is really happy playing for Croatia."
  
  An FA spokesman confirmed: "FIFA rules allow players who acquire a new nationality to play for their new national team as long as they have lived in that country for over two years and have not played for any other national team."
• felirox

  2 Sep 07, 17:03

  looks like the goalie's position may be almunia's in world cup 2010!
• anhydrouscoppersulphate

  2 Sep 07, 18:21

  Originally posted by felirox:

  looks like the goalie's position may be almunia's in world cup 2010!

  
• stellazio

  2 Sep 07, 20:03

  i wonder how the patriotic englishmen will react.
• CKeer

  3 Sep 07, 19:47

  Yes, he will represent England if:
  1. Lehmann retires and he continues playing regularly for Arsenal and keeping a good number of clean sheets + excellent performance
  2. Robinson becomes fatter, slower and weaker at shot-stopping
  3. James retires
  4. Kirkland broke his arm
  5. Green injured his fingers
  6. Carson and Foster both carried injuries
  
  In short, in your dreams!
  
  Cheers.
  CK