--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I could choose which national team…" description: "\"When I could choose which national team to play for, I could choose between Luxembourg, France, and Bosnia, and I chose Bosnia because I felt it was im..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e78/miralem-pjanic-32141_people_when-i-could-choose-which-national-team_1005998.jpg" --- # When I could choose which national team to play for, I… ![“When I could choose which national team to play for, I could choose between Luxembourg, France, and Bosnia, and I chose Bosnia because I felt it was important to demonstrate, especially to the young people, that a dream can become true.” quote by Miralem Pjanic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e78/miralem-pjanic-32141_people_when-i-could-choose-which-national-team_1005998.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e78/miralem-pjanic-32141_people_when-i-could-choose-which-national-team_1005998.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e78/miralem-pjanic-32141_people_when-i-could-choose-which-national-team_1005998.jpg) > “When I could choose which national team to play for, I could choose between Luxembourg, France, and Bosnia, and I chose Bosnia because I felt it was important to demonstrate, especially to the young people, that a dream can become true.” [Miralem Pjanic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miralem-pjanic/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing to represent Bosnia highlights the power of role modeling and proving dreams possible for youth. **In simple terms:** Representing a nation can inspire others. Key Takeaway Use your platform to inspire. Themes identity inspiration dreams youth empowerment Mood inspirational proud Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - community outreach - youth coaching - public speaking - team leadership Key Concepts national pride role model determination Questions to Reflect On - How can athletes inspire beyond sport? - What responsibilities come with representation? A Different Perspective Risk of politicizing sport. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [National team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/national-team/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) [Young people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-people/) ## Related quotes > [The World Cup was the biggest thing ever for the national team, but the Champions League is the biggest thing for clubs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-villa/the-world-cup-was-the-biggest-thing-ever-for-the-national-team-but/) [David Villa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-villa/) > [At the World Cup and at national team camps it's hard. Everyone wanted me to go back home and play for their team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jude-bellingham/at-the-world-cup-and-at-national-team-camps-it-s-hard-everyone-wanted/) [Jude Bellingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jude-bellingham/) > [I didn't have an easy path through the national team, especially in the youth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/weston-mckennie/i-didn-t-have-an-easy-path-through-the-national-team-especially-in/) [Weston McKennie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/weston-mckennie/) > [I actually spoke to all the national team players who play in the Premier League, asking about what the league is like and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alisson/i-actually-spoke-to-all-the-national-team-players-who-play-in-the/) [Alisson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alisson/) > [Being called up to the national team is about going with them, playing the best you possibly can, and trying to win. That's how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-pique/being-called-up-to-the-national-team-is-about-going-with-them-playing/) [Gerard Pique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-pique/) > [I hope things go phenomenally well for Spain and for Luis Enrique. I'm a fervent supporter of the national team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julen-lopetegui/i-hope-things-go-phenomenally-well-for-spain-and-for-luis-enrique-i-m/) [Julen Lopetegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julen-lopetegui/) > [Being part of the Dutch national team is about unity and not about rivalry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/klaas-jan-huntelaar/being-part-of-the-dutch-national-team-is-about-unity-and-not-about/) [Klaas-Jan Huntelaar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/klaas-jan-huntelaar/) > [I have no idea if anyone is watching me from the Brazil national team, but the best way to have a chance is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-coutinho/i-have-no-idea-if-anyone-is-watching-me-from-the-brazil-national-team/) [Philippe Coutinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-coutinho/) > [Bob Houghton is a great coach and I am confident that the national team will do well under him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-chhetri/bob-houghton-is-a-great-coach-and-i-am-confident-that-the-national/) [Sunil Chhetri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-chhetri/) > [It's obviously important for the English national team if you have a lot of players playing big matches. You are more mature and know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-davids/it-s-obviously-important-for-the-english-national-team-if-you-have-a/) [Edgar Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-davids/) > [After my experience on some United States youth national teams and in M.L.S., I have to say that the biggest difference I've seen here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jozy-altidore/after-my-experience-on-some-united-states-youth-national-teams-and-in/) [Jozy Altidore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jozy-altidore/) > [I thought I wasn't going to have a career, because I was told I wasn't good enough. So my journey with the national team…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/weston-mckennie/i-thought-i-wasn-t-going-to-have-a-career-because-i-was-told-i-wasn-t/) [Weston McKennie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/weston-mckennie/) > [I definitely see this team, the Canadian national team, definitely fighting for a spot in the 2022 World Cup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonso-davies/i-definitely-see-this-team-the-canadian-national-team-definitely/) [Alphonso Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonso-davies/) > [I really enjoy going to play for the national team and be with the guys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cedi-osman/i-really-enjoy-going-to-play-for-the-national-team-and-be-with-the/) [Cedi Osman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cedi-osman/) > [I wish to thank all fans who support me, but the others should be ashamed because I am a born winner and always played…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edin-dzeko/i-wish-to-thank-all-fans-who-support-me-but-the-others-should-be/) [Edin Dzeko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edin-dzeko/) ## More by Miralem Pjanic > [When you play well, and you don't win, in the end, you get tired. You've lost something. You've lost time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miralem-pjanic/when-you-play-well-and-you-don-t-win-in-the-end-you-get-tired-you-ve/) [Miralem Pjanic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miralem-pjanic/) > [It was my dad who got me into football. One day, he surprised me playing in the garage. He thought I was a thief.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miralem-pjanic/it-was-my-dad-who-got-me-into-football-one-day-he-surprised-me/) [Miralem Pjanic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miralem-pjanic/) > [When I was six, I joined FC Schifflange 95, a first-division team in Luxembourg. They knew I had talent, but I knew only hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miralem-pjanic/when-i-was-six-i-joined-fc-schifflange-95-a-first-division-team-in/) [Miralem Pjanic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miralem-pjanic/) > [In 2008, I moved to Lyon, one of France's top clubs. I had some very strong team mates, and I proved to be at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miralem-pjanic/in-2008-i-moved-to-lyon-one-of-france-s-top-clubs-i-had-some-very/) [Miralem Pjanic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miralem-pjanic/) > [In the world of football, it is normal that rumours come from the media. It is something that I'm used to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miralem-pjanic/in-the-world-of-football-it-is-normal-that-rumours-come-from-the/) [Miralem Pjanic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miralem-pjanic/) > [My dream was to become a footballer. I started loving football so much that I followed my dad wherever he went and spent all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miralem-pjanic/my-dream-was-to-become-a-footballer-i-started-loving-football-so-much/) [Miralem Pjanic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miralem-pjanic/) > [PSG are amongst the top eight European clubs. They want to go to the next level in the Champions' League; it is a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miralem-pjanic/psg-are-amongst-the-top-eight-european-clubs-they-want-to-go-to-the/) [Miralem Pjanic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miralem-pjanic/) > [When I arrived at Roma, someone defined me as Giotto, 'The Painter,' but the nickname I prefer is the one I got from Captain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miralem-pjanic/when-i-arrived-at-roma-someone-defined-me-as-giotto-the-painter-but/) [Miralem Pjanic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miralem-pjanic/) > [My dad was a midfielder, like I am, and he was good, too. When I saw him playing as I got older, I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miralem-pjanic/my-dad-was-a-midfielder-like-i-am-and-he-was-good-too-when-i-saw-him/) [Miralem Pjanic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miralem-pjanic/) > [Bayern is a dream destination for every player, one of the best clubs in the world, a real machine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miralem-pjanic/bayern-is-a-dream-destination-for-every-player-one-of-the-best-clubs/) [Miralem Pjanic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miralem-pjanic/) > [I think I was called 'the pianist' because of the way I play. It's true that I don't score many goals, just a few,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miralem-pjanic/i-think-i-was-called-the-pianist-because-of-the-way-i-play-it-s-true/) [Miralem Pjanic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miralem-pjanic/) > [I have always lived abroad, but inside my family, we always speak in Bosnian and preserve all the Bosnian traditions. So it's always inside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miralem-pjanic/i-have-always-lived-abroad-but-inside-my-family-we-always-speak-in/) [Miralem Pjanic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miralem-pjanic/) > [I want to win titles, and Juve is the right club for that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miralem-pjanic/i-want-to-win-titles-and-juve-is-the-right-club-for-that/) [Miralem Pjanic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miralem-pjanic/) > [I like to watch teams who play well, ball on the floor, ball to feet, playing well as a collective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miralem-pjanic/i-like-to-watch-teams-who-play-well-ball-on-the-floor-ball-to-feet/) [Miralem Pjanic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miralem-pjanic/) > [I'm not someone who can do 10 stepovers or backheels - I'm not very interested in that. I'm more fascinated by the simplicity of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miralem-pjanic/i-m-not-someone-who-can-do-10-stepovers-or-backheels-i-m-not-very/) [Miralem Pjanic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miralem-pjanic/) [Explore all 16 Miralem Pjanic quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miralem-pjanic/) ## More Football quotes > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/) [Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/) > [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/) [Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/) > [There are guys who play lacrosse, and there are lacrosse players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-mundorf/there-are-guys-who-play-lacrosse-and-there-are-lacrosse-players/) Brendan Mundorf > [Giggs is the realest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kaluuya/giggs-is-the-realest/) [Daniel Kaluuya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kaluuya/) > [You get a new coach; you do things a little differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archie-manning/you-get-a-new-coach-you-do-things-a-little-differently/) [Archie Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archie-manning/) > [You gotta have a little kid in you to play football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-edwards/you-gotta-have-a-little-kid-in-you-to-play-football/) [Herman Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-edwards/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [My team mates are fundamental for my characteristics, if they send in crosses I can play inside the area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filippo-inzaghi/my-team-mates-are-fundamental-for-my-characteristics-if-they-send-in/) [Filippo Inzaghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filippo-inzaghi/) > [The Copa del Rey is a different competition. It is football in its purest form and is different from the continuity of the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-laudrup/the-copa-del-rey-is-a-different-competition-it-is-football-in-its/) [Michael Laudrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-laudrup/) > [“Wild card, got it," Duncan said. "Just like in Crazy Eights. I can be a diamond; I can be a spade. Whatever you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-healy/wild-card-got-it-duncan-said-just-like-in-crazy-eights-i-can-be-a/) [Christopher Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-healy/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/) [Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/) > [I just enjoy winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/i-just-enjoy-winning/) [Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/) > [I think you can get, as a player, stuck in the mindset of trying too hard to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/i-think-you-can-get-as-a-player-stuck-in-the-mindset-of-trying-too/) [Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/) > [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-hand/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) [Browse all 59,646 Football quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I could choose which national team to play for, I could choose between Luxembourg, France, and Bosnia, and I chose Bosnia because I felt it was important to demonstrate, especially to the young people, that a dream can become true.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Miralem Pjanic" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miralem-pjanic/when-i-could-choose-which-national-team-to-play-for-i-could-choose/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Football" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miralem-pjanic/when-i-could-choose-which-national-team-to-play-for-i-could-choose/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e78/miralem-pjanic-32141_people_when-i-could-choose-which-national-team_1005998.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e78/miralem-pjanic-32141_people_when-i-could-choose-which-national-team_1005998.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e78/miralem-pjanic-32141_people_when-i-could-choose-which-national-team_1005998.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I could choose which national team to play for, I could choose between Luxembourg, France, and Bosnia…” — Miralem Pjanic", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Miralem Pjanic", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miralem-pjanic/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I could choose which national...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miralem-pjanic/when-i-could-choose-which-national-team-to-play-for-i-could-choose/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miralem-pjanic/when-i-could-choose-which-national-team-to-play-for-i-could-choose/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```