Plastic Paraguayans.

One of the features of this current World Cup competition-now in its semi finals stage-has been the performance of the minor footballing powers. I am not referring to England, but to countries like the USA, Algeria and Paraguay.

Although the United States is the pre-eminent power on the planet it is, in soccer terms, a minnow.

I had thought that since USA 94 that grassroots investment and the continuing influx into the USA from Central America would give “team USA” a Hispanic foundation of flair and inventiveness.

However the team that topped England’s group tended to be all American boys welded together by patriotism.

It was engaging to watch.

I noticed with a wry smile that of the team that took to the field against England seven of them were not born in Algeria.

Quite a few of them qualified on the FIFA grandparent rule.

It could not be argued that they lacked commitment to their ancestral homeland. Truly they tackled and fought for Algeria.

These “artificial Algerians” were French born. Some of them play in France the land of their birth. France and Algeria have a difficult history. Colonialism almost always creates a problematic narrative. The freedom struggle by the Algerian people in the 1950s brought the French armed forces to the brink of mutiny. The French state itself was in peril. Despite all of this there remains a substantial Algerian community in France.

French born lads consider themselves, in some ways, to be Algerian.

Some French footballers have declared for Algeria.

They feel Algerian. It is an emotional connection.

I wonder if they attract the opprobrium of French football crowds?

I suspect that the relaxed, culturally confident French do not concern themselves with such nonsense. In the land of rational discourse a player such as Madjid Bougherra is allowed to express his love for the land of one of his grandparents.

Bougherra regularly wears a wristband in the colours of his nation as he takes to the field of play for his club.

He is routinely referred to by the Scottish media as “Algerian”.

He has ONE Algerian born grandparent. This qualifies him, under FIFA guidelines, to declare for Algeria.

Compare and contrast the treatment of Aidan McGeady by the Scottish media. Has Aidan ever been given his nationality in Scottish sports reportage?

Aidan McGeady is as Irish as Madjid Bougherra is Algerian.

Both should be respected for their decisions.

Last night I watched a totally outclassed Paraguay team battle against the guile and inventiveness of the current European champions.

Finally, they were breached, but only after they had given Spain a major examination of their determination and mental fortitude.

These players were not plastic Paraguayans. They rallied to their flag. They gave and gave.

Like Algeria several of the Paraguayan team were not born in the country they were playing for. Several of the Paraguayans were born in Argentina.

There is a strong tradition of  Paraguayans being economic migrants in Argentina.

It is the big affluent neighbour next door. If a lad shows well as a soccer player in Paraguay then Argentina is the nearest major league. Similar to the Bundesliga for Austrians and La Liga for Portuguese.

Paraguay and Argentina have history. In the 19th century in the “War of the Triple Alliance” 90% yes NINTEY PER CENT of the male population of Paraguay was killed by the combined armies of Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina.

The country was largely re-populated by Italian immigration. The Paraguayan national team certainly seems to have a penchant for cattenachio.

I am not aware of any of these; lets call them  “heritage players” being abused in the country of their birth.

Celtic’s new player Cha Du Ri is German by birth. Born to parents from South Korea he declared for his father’s country.

I understand his choice. Had I been a footballer I would have made the same choice and I would have declared for Ireland.

It would not have been a second choice, or a fall back position.

Ireland would be my only choice. Had the Ireland manger not wanted me then I would not have turned out for Scotland.

I have one heart and it is Irish.

True Scottish patriots will get that.

I think of one friend in particular who first saw the light of day in Cape Breton. In his heart he is Scottish. That’s good enough for me.

Probably by the time the new football season starts in Scotland Aidan McGeady will have left Celtic and the land of his birth.

I wish him well. He is a talented young man and his choice of international soccer allegiance was based on a rich Irish heritage.

Like the writer he had no choice in his birthplace, but he could make a choice about his nationality, just like Madjid Bougherra.

Aidan will place somewhere outside Scotland in whatever country he is in the fact that he is Republic of Ireland international will not be an issues.

Only in the land of his birth is an Irish heritage a social crime.

That is why his life is about to become more tolerable as he moves to a city that doesn’t harbour so many that hate the Irish and Irishness.

Adh mor ort Aidan.