The sport of football is being affected by an historic groundbreaking phenomena, naturalization of workforce, inmigration and commercial interests. It is common now to see players from other nationalities, or born in a country where one or both parents are not native from and/or different races in national teams. There is almost no doubt that this issue is being debated in FIFA and other such Federations and organizations.
Such a case is the Mexican National Team, with some foreign players of the local team who have been naturalized, have been called to the roster in recent years and has caused much fuzz in the local media and of course motif of critic by the fans everywhere in the country.
It is to my belief that we must embrace the fact that a sworn naturalized citizen of our country has the legitimate right to wear the Green jersey and is eligeble by right under rules of FIFA and of course Mexican laws. We as mexicans should not discriminate and be intolerable to such changes for we must abide to modern times and social structures of our century and not fall victims of patriotic fanatism and be stubborn to always see an all native mexican roster.
So the questions remain:
Are they better than native mexican players? Do they make a difference in the NT team at all? Fact is they haven't made a reasonable difference and still native players are significantly more qualified for such positions in recent experience. The main reason they justify all their calls have been skill conditions that are needed for certain positions, mostly on the offensive side. Yet we see the same offensive collective struggle to finish up the play and score of the oportunity. And execute poorly as a team as well. But these players still are in their own right to be called for the NT. And deserve their right to prove themselves worthy of a roster spot.
On a positive note there has been some success and favor of players with these characteristics in the past, and succeded in winning a spot in the roster. Such as Luis Roberto Alves "Zague" a mexican born player who parent is Brazilian and played in the league in his day. Another case would be Giovanni Dos Santos, same situation, but in his case he was part of the U-17 World Cup roster, won affection by fans of the country and still is a hope for the Mexican NT in the future.
The other way around goes for Nery Castillo; mexican born raised in Uruguay which put on the negotiation table his eligibility for the NT and even was tempted to play for and was disfavored by the fans, as an example he was eligible for a spot in the 2008 World Cup in Germany which he turned down. Gabriel Caballero, "Zihna", Guillermo Franco, to name a few naturalized players that have occupied roster positions in the NT, have been cause of debate in the national sports media and press. But the responsability very well lies in the coaches who picks them for the lineup.
Sure the situtation has it's vices, which are evident but in sports all that matters is winning and revenue so there is no way this can be evaded. It is the resposability of the executive of the FMF (Mexican Football Federation) to address this matter with honesty and ethics in coordination with the Head coach in turn how to manage the roster and keep the native coaches, players and fans happy as for all are affected and well demand natives a chance to lineup for the National Team. If someone is called up it must be justified, but every Head Coach has his lineup worked.
Ad Lib to the issue at hand: Ehe tension and debate generated not long ago between former NT head coach Ricardo Lavolpe and Hugo Sanchez who criticized Lavolpe for adding naturalized players in the roster, position that got favored by the fans and other coaches, players and team presidents. Then Sanchez himself lined up Lavolpe's naturalized players at the end of his run as head coach of the NT. Some other unfavorable situations is naturalized player self promotion for the NT, for commercial interest, since once lined up raise or their value in the league market.
These examples are the inevitable reality that football has changed and will continue to evolve into new customs and interests. It must not be seen as a problem, but much of the debate occurs in the Massive media for a few ratings points; it is their task to inform the fans that it is inevitable and to which we must abide as fans and we must be tolerant of these players who chose to reside, work and live in Mexican soil, for so they pay their taxes and have same rights and responsabilites and very well enjoy tacos as the rest of us.
Many national teams have naturalized players, which I'm not against. However, Hugo playing Nery Castillo (a Mexican born player, but whose parents are from Uruguay and who hardly lived in Mexico) while not wanting someone like Zinha (to play on the National team) who married a Mexican and whose children are Mexican, because he was not born in Mexico is to me, idiotic.
Dos Santo case is not the same as Zague's. Zague's parents are Brazilian and he was raised in Brazil. While Dos Santos' mom is Mexican and he was born and raised in Mexico. Only his dad is from Brazil. I read an article in Mexico along time ago about Giovanni's younger brother Jonathon wanting to play for Brazil. His father says he younger has even more talent than the older brother. But, I hope he reconsiders this. If he were to live in Brazil, I believe he will find that he is more Mexican than Nopal. But, it's for him to discover.
