The players who got away playing for England.
Ryan Giggs (Wales)
PLAYED for England schoolboys but was persuaded to switch back to his native Wales.
Finally made it to the finals of an international tournament when he skippered Team GB at the Olympics.
Given a taste of what might have been had he picked England... as the side went out on penalties in the quarter-finals!
SKIP, SKIP, HOORAY ... Giggs led Team GB in this summer's Olympics
Shaka Hislop (Trinidad & Tobago)
EAST LONDON lad turned out for England U-21s and was an unused sub for the full team in a friendly against Chile.
But the former Reading, Newcastle and West Ham stopper swapped for Trinidad & Tobago — and played AGAINST the Three Lions in the 2006 World Cup.
MAKING HIS-TORY ... Shaka scrambles to save from Peter Crouch at '06 World Cup
Emmanuel Frimpong (Ghana)
FRIMPONG starred for England at youth levels — but last year pulled out of an U-21 squad when Ghana declared an interest.
Has pledged his future to the African nation and is now waiting for FIFA clearance.
Once said: “If Ghana call me, I will ride my own bicycle from England to Ghana.”
I'M GHANA LOOK ELSEWHERE ... Frimpong stars for England U-16s before Black Stars switch
Rory Fallon (New Zealand)
FALLON is the son of a former New Zealand manager and was a hero of their amazing World Cup campaign in 2010.
But the Aberdeen ace only picked the Kiwis after playing for England at every youth level.
Fallon must have been chuffed with his decision as Fabio Capello’s men came home a laughing stock — while he left South Africa a national hero.
KIWI HOOT ... Rory Fallon celebrates after netting at 2010 World Cup
Matt Phillips (Scotland)
PHILLIPS represented England at U-19 and U-20 level.
But the Blackpool winger wanted full honours quickly and in February snubbed Stuart Pearce’s U-21 offer to play for Scotland instead.
WELCOME MATT ... Scots tempted Phillips over the border
Colin Kazim-Richards (Turkey)
PACKED his bags for Turkey after growing tired of waiting for a call from England.
Kazim-Richards, who has 35 caps for the Turks, took a swipe at Three Lions management by claiming that his ‘face didn’t fit’ what FA bosses wanted.
But things turned out for the Leytonstone lad — he was the only English player at Euro 2008 after Steve McClaren’s side failed to qualify.
TURKEY WINNER ... Colin Kazim-Richards stars at Euro 2008
Oliver Norwood (Northern Ireland)
BORN in England, Norwood turned out for the youth teams before switching to Northern Ireland.
Last month helped shackle Portugal in Cristiano Ronaldo’s 100th game — and even landed the Real Madrid megastar’s shirt after the game.
MARKED MAN ... Norwood bagged Ronaldo's shirt in his 100th game
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