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‘Scot’ Wilson ‘no’ to Almunia England place
Ex-keeper against selecting Spaniard
ARSENAL goalkeeping legend Bob Wilson has called time on Manuel Almunia’s dream of playing for England at the World Cup.
Wilson, an Englishman who played in goal for Scotland in the 1970s, believes the current Gunners shot-stopper should not be considered by coach Fabio Capello.
Spaniard Almunia, who is expected to return for Arsenal against Blackburn on Sunday following a chest infection, is eligible to play for England under official FIFA residency rules.
But Wilson told the New Journal: “In Manuel’s case, the mum and dad are Spanish. There isn’t an English connection. Who am I to say it is wrong? It’s just, I don’t really agree with it.”
Wilson made more than 300 appearances for the Gunners and became the first English-born goalkeeper to play for Scotland in 1971 when the football authorities relaxed the selection criteria rules.
He added: “I should not be the one who should condemn it, because I was the first English-born goalkeeper to play for Scotland. But in my case you could argue the blood-line was pure Scottish blood. In some ways, I changed the rule.”
Almunia, 34, has never been called up for international duty and he will be struggling to get back in the Arsenal side if stand-in Vito Mannone continues his fine form.
After a man-of-the-match performance against Fulham on Saturday, Mannone – whose Italian name translates as “Big Hands” – kept another clean-sheet in Tuesday night’s Champions League taunting of Olympiakos.
The Gunners ran out 2-0 winners with late goals from Robin van Persie and Andrey Arshavin. |
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