--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I went to Spain and lived there for…" description: "\"If I went to Spain and lived there for five years, I'm not going to play for Spain. For me an English player should play for England, really.\" — Jack W..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f57/jack-wilshere-5152_england_if-i-went-to-spain-and-lived-there-for-f_2125615.png" --- # If I went to Spain and lived there for five years, I'm not… ![“If I went to Spain and lived there for five years, I'm not going to play for Spain. For me an English player should play for England, really.” quote by Jack Wilshere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f57/jack-wilshere-5152_england_if-i-went-to-spain-and-lived-there-for-f_2125615.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f57/jack-wilshere-5152_england_if-i-went-to-spain-and-lived-there-for-f_2125615.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f57/jack-wilshere-5152_england_if-i-went-to-spain-and-lived-there-for-f_2125615.png) > “If I went to Spain and lived there for five years, I'm not going to play for Spain. For me an English player should play for England, really.” [Jack Wilshere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-wilshere/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. National identity in sports should match birthplace and personal allegiance, not residency alone. **In simple terms:** Play for your country of origin. Key Takeaway Respect national ties. Themes nationalism sport identity Mood reflective serious Type statement opinion When to use this quote - player selection - international matches - fan expectations Key Concepts citizenship eligibility loyalty Questions to Reflect On - Should residency ever allow national representation? - How do fans view such decisions? A Different Perspective Complex personal histories can blur simple rules. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/england/) [England Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/england-really-1176879/) [English Player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/english-player-275099/) [Five](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/five/) [Five years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/five-years/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Lived](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lived/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-england/) [Play Spain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-spain-1892736/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) ## Related quotes > [My favourite English player of my time was Paul Gascoigne. I interviewed him several times, always entertaining.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-motson/my-favourite-english-player-of-my-time-was-paul-gascoigne-i/) [John Motson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-motson/) > [Scholes is the best English player. Intelligence, technique, strength... all the attributes are there. At Manchester United I saw what he could do on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurent-blanc/scholes-is-the-best-english-player-intelligence-technique-strength/) [Laurent Blanc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurent-blanc/) > [You know I don't think there will ever be a time when the English player is not respected, and feared, across the world of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-cruijff/you-know-i-don-t-think-there-will-ever-be-a-time-when-the-english/) [Johan Cruijff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-cruijff/) > [I think playing for England is the pinnacle of every young English player's career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-noble/i-think-playing-for-england-is-the-pinnacle-of-every-young-english/) [Mark Noble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-noble/) > [It's a pleasure to play for England, and I will never say no.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-wilshere/it-s-a-pleasure-to-play-for-england-and-i-will-never-say-no/) [Jack Wilshere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-wilshere/) > [I tell anyone who asks me - Scholes is the best English player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurent-blanc/i-tell-anyone-who-asks-me-scholes-is-the-best-english-player/) [Laurent Blanc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurent-blanc/) > [It's a dream to play for England, so if I'm selected, I'd look forward to playing. But it's down to the powers above me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-wilshere/it-s-a-dream-to-play-for-england-so-if-i-m-selected-i-d-look-forward/) [Jack Wilshere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-wilshere/) > [There's a bit of a myth that you pre-suppose every European player is better than every English player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-dyche/there-s-a-bit-of-a-myth-that-you-pre-suppose-every-european-player-is/) [Sean Dyche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-dyche/) > [The only people who should play for England are English people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-wilshere/the-only-people-who-should-play-for-england-are-english-people/) [Jack Wilshere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-wilshere/) > [As an English player you are lifted when the crowd gets behind you. The atmosphere over here can be unsettling for the Australian players…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-ellis/as-an-english-player-you-are-lifted-when-the-crowd-gets-behind-you/) [Gareth Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-ellis/) > [If I had the choice I would live in London. There are a few things I don't like about England but its just details,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-petit/if-i-had-the-choice-i-would-live-in-london-there-are-a-few-things-i/) [Emmanuel Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-petit/) > [As you can hear, I am English - I am from England - and it was really good playing for Ireland.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-rice/as-you-can-hear-i-am-english-i-am-from-england-and-it-was-really-good/) [Declan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-rice/) > [I was born in Middlesex, England, which is really London.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-was-born-in-middlesex-england-which-is-really-london/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [England really is the birthplace, the heart and soul of football. If Barcelona had Liverpool's fans, or Arsenal's, or United's, we'd have won 20…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xavi/england-really-is-the-birthplace-the-heart-and-soul-of-football-if/) [Xavi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xavi/) > [England is not really a basketball country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-fournier/england-is-not-really-a-basketball-country/) [Evan Fournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-fournier/) ## More by Jack Wilshere > [Players and people make mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-wilshere/players-and-people-make-mistakes/) [Jack Wilshere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-wilshere/) > [I went to Bournemouth and had a great time. The idea was just to prove to myself that I can still play at that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-wilshere/i-went-to-bournemouth-and-had-a-great-time-the-idea-was-just-to-prove/) [Jack Wilshere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-wilshere/) > [I'm always in contact with my manager at Arsenal, who has been a big part of my career, and I'll always talk to him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-wilshere/i-m-always-in-contact-with-my-manager-at-arsenal-who-has-been-a-big/) [Jack Wilshere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-wilshere/) > [Loyalty is a big part of football, and it shows if you are a real man or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-wilshere/loyalty-is-a-big-part-of-football-and-it-shows-if-you-are-a-real-man/) [Jack Wilshere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-wilshere/) > [When you are injured - and injured for a while - it is hard. You have to go to the training ground and watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-wilshere/when-you-are-injured-and-injured-for-a-while-it-is-hard-you-have-to/) [Jack Wilshere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-wilshere/) > [We have loyalty at Arsenal, and players have shown that in the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-wilshere/we-have-loyalty-at-arsenal-and-players-have-shown-that-in-the-past/) [Jack Wilshere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-wilshere/) > [I want to play in the Premier League, the Champions League, and I want to continue playing for England. If I'm going to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-wilshere/i-want-to-play-in-the-premier-league-the-champions-league-and-i-want/) [Jack Wilshere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-wilshere/) > [The only people who should play for England are English people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-wilshere/the-only-people-who-should-play-for-england-are-english-people/) [Jack Wilshere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-wilshere/) > [I know the best way to recover and get the right amount of sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-wilshere/i-know-the-best-way-to-recover-and-get-the-right-amount-of-sleep/) [Jack Wilshere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-wilshere/) > [When I was 18 or 19, I would come into training, and I'd be the last in and first out. I was one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-wilshere/when-i-was-18-or-19-i-would-come-into-training-and-i-d-be-the-last-in/) [Jack Wilshere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-wilshere/) > [I know my body better. I know how to be more professional. I know how to get myself ready for the games, which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-wilshere/i-know-my-body-better-i-know-how-to-be-more-professional-i-know-how/) [Jack Wilshere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-wilshere/) > [I haven't eaten junk food since I was 11, but I'm not teetotal: I have a drink maybe once a month.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-wilshere/i-haven-t-eaten-junk-food-since-i-was-11-but-i-m-not-teetotal-i-have/) [Jack Wilshere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-wilshere/) > [It's a dream to play for England, so if I'm selected, I'd look forward to playing. But it's down to the powers above me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-wilshere/it-s-a-dream-to-play-for-england-so-if-i-m-selected-i-d-look-forward/) [Jack Wilshere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-wilshere/) > [As a player, if your attitude is questioned, it's horrible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-wilshere/as-a-player-if-your-attitude-is-questioned-it-s-horrible/) [Jack Wilshere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-wilshere/) > [It's impossible for one player to play the whole year. I've learnt that myself, and you're always bound to get injuries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-wilshere/it-s-impossible-for-one-player-to-play-the-whole-year-i-ve-learnt/) [Jack Wilshere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-wilshere/) [Explore all 103 Jack Wilshere quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-wilshere/) ## More England quotes > [Forcing modern speakers of English to not - whoops, not to split an infinitive because it isn't done in Latin makes about as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/forcing-modern-speakers-of-english-to-not-whoops-not-to-split-an/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [I did not know that the planning for biological and chemical warfare was so widespread in England, and even in France before France fell.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholson-baker/i-did-not-know-that-the-planning-for-biological-and-chemical-warfare/) [Nicholson Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholson-baker/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [I'm from Europe, England, and I actually lived in Italy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adewale-akinnuoye-agbaje/i-m-from-europe-england-and-i-actually-lived-in-italy/) [Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adewale-akinnuoye-agbaje/) > [If I had been an Italian I am sure that I should have been whole-heartedly with you from the start to finish in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/if-i-had-been-an-italian-i-am-sure-that-i-should-have-been-whole/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [“This spending of the best part of one's life earning money in order to enjoy a questionable liberty during the least valuable part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/this-spending-of-the-best-part-of-one-s-life-earning-money-in-order/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > ['Downton Abbey' is my worst nightmare. I just hate that whole 'Upstairs Downstairs' thing, I think it's really lazy and it doesn't represent England,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-payne/downton-abbey-is-my-worst-nightmare-i-just-hate-that-whole-upstairs/) [Tom Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-payne/) > [Although I don't have anything against people from other countries, the higher the influx into England the more the British identity disappears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/although-i-don-t-have-anything-against-people-from-other-countries/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [These fledgling democracies in the Middle East, they're actually fighting for their freedom. And what are they rioting for in England? Leisurewear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-gallagher/these-fledgling-democracies-in-the-middle-east-they-re-actually/) [Noel Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-gallagher/) > [In the olden days in England, you could be hung for stealing a sheep or a loaf of bread. However, if a sheep stole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-harding/in-the-olden-days-in-england-you-could-be-hung-for-stealing-a-sheep/) [Mike Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-harding/) > [“Of France and England, did this king succeed; Whose state so many had the managing. That they lost France and made his England bleed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/of-france-and-england-did-this-king-succeed-whose-state-so-many-had/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [In my view, fitness training isn't that important in England, as they all train with such intensity anyway and have a competitive edge when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudio-ranieri/in-my-view-fitness-training-isn-t-that-important-in-england-as-they/) [Claudio Ranieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudio-ranieri/) > [England expects every man to do his duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-nelson/england-expects-every-man-to-do-his-duty/) [Horatio Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-nelson/) [Browse all 4,190 England quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/england/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If I went to Spain and lived there for five years, I'm not going to play for Spain. 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