--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The first priority would have been…" description: "\"The first priority would have been England, but you have to look at the circumstances, England have got a lot of good, young talent coming through so I..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5b/yannick-bolasie-23621_country_the-first-priority-would-have-been-engla_1798904.jpg" --- # The first priority would have been England, but you have… ![“The first priority would have been England, but you have to look at the circumstances, England have got a lot of good, young talent coming through so I thought I'd go and play for my mum and dad's country.” quote by Yannick Bolasie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5b/yannick-bolasie-23621_country_the-first-priority-would-have-been-engla_1798904.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5b/yannick-bolasie-23621_country_the-first-priority-would-have-been-engla_1798904.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5b/yannick-bolasie-23621_country_the-first-priority-would-have-been-engla_1798904.jpg) > “The first priority would have been England, but you have to look at the circumstances, England have got a lot of good, young talent coming through so I thought I'd go and play for my mum and dad's country.” [Yannick Bolasie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yannick-bolasie/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Prioritizes national pride and opportunity over personal convenience when choosing a team. **In simple terms:** Choose based on heritage and chance. Key Takeaway Consider roots and prospects in decisions. Themes identity career nationalism opportunity Mood proud reflective Type sports personal When to use this quote - team selection - career planning - family influence - cultural ties Key Concepts sports sociology personal branding migration Questions to Reflect On - How does heritage shape your choices? - What trade‑offs are acceptable for national representation? A Different Perspective May ignore financial or competitive factors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Circumstances England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circumstances-england-2014295/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) [England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/england/) [England Got](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/england-got-2014294/) [England Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/england-look-1321754/) [First priority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-priority/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) [Mum and dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mum-and-dad/) [Priority England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priority-england-2014296/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) [Young talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-talent/) ## Related quotes > [Creativity follows mastery, so mastery of skills is the first priority for young talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-bloom/creativity-follows-mastery-so-mastery-of-skills-is-the-first-priority/) [Benjamin Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-bloom/) > [“It’s what I imagined England would look like.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-semple/it-s-what-i-imagined-england-would-look-like/) [Maria Semple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-semple/) > [I think with England, I look at myself and accept that I didn't do well enough; then, other times, I was playing my best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-carrick/i-think-with-england-i-look-at-myself-and-accept-that-i-didn-t-do/) [Michael Carrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-carrick/) > [Its easy to underestimate how much scrutiny players are under in England. Look at someone like Wayne Rooney - having to deal with it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-heskey/its-easy-to-underestimate-how-much-scrutiny-players-are-under-in/) [Emile Heskey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-heskey/) > [And our experience in England was that. It was a delight. I had never even been to England and I got to spend five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerusha-hess/and-our-experience-in-england-was-that-it-was-a-delight-i-had-never/) [Jerusha Hess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerusha-hess/) > [As a youth player, I played for England and got used to it, and I have just to carry it on to the bigger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-loftus-cheek/as-a-youth-player-i-played-for-england-and-got-used-to-it-and-i-have/) [Ruben Loftus-Cheek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-loftus-cheek/) > [It is everyone's dream to play for England and we have got a lot of top players in that midfield and lot of competition.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-winks/it-is-everyone-s-dream-to-play-for-england-and-we-have-got-a-lot-of/) [Harry Winks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-winks/) > [I think England has got some great players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-think-england-has-got-some-great-players/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [The other advantage England have got when Phil Tufnell is bowling is that he isn't fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-chappell/the-other-advantage-england-have-got-when-phil-tufnell-is-bowling-is/) [Ian Chappell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-chappell/) > [We expect our media to lead and open doors for our young talents. As we need creative engineers, doctors and managers, we also need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-bin-rashid-al-maktoum/we-expect-our-media-to-lead-and-open-doors-for-our-young-talents-as/) [Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-bin-rashid-al-maktoum/) > [It's always important to invest in young talents and the talents of tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delphine-arnault/it-s-always-important-to-invest-in-young-talents-and-the-talents-of/) [Delphine Arnault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delphine-arnault/) > [Its always important to invest in young talents and the talents of tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delphine-arnault/its-always-important-to-invest-in-young-talents-and-the-talents-of/) [Delphine Arnault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delphine-arnault/) > [Germany, when you're a young player, is the best. There are lots of young talents here, and people have faith in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ousmane-dembele/germany-when-you-re-a-young-player-is-the-best-there-are-lots-of/) [Ousmane Dembele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ousmane-dembele/) > [In the old days it was important, but not as important as it is today, to keep making success after success after success. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-andrews/in-the-old-days-it-was-important-but-not-as-important-as-it-is-today/) [Julie Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-andrews/) > [When you step up as a young talent, you need to challenge the old lads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-mertesacker/when-you-step-up-as-a-young-talent-you-need-to-challenge-the-old-lads/) [Per Mertesacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-mertesacker/) ## More by Yannick Bolasie > [I started realising I'm bigger and stronger than a lot of the full-backs. I was expecting everyone in the Prem to be so strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yannick-bolasie/i-started-realising-i-m-bigger-and-stronger-than-a-lot-of-the-full/) [Yannick Bolasie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yannick-bolasie/) > [My dad - Gaby Yala - played for the Congo national team as well, at Under-21 level. When I see him playing, even today,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yannick-bolasie/my-dad-gaby-yala-played-for-the-congo-national-team-as-well-at-under/) [Yannick Bolasie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yannick-bolasie/) > [When I left Bristol City for Palace, I just wanted to be playing football. I didn't care about the money I was getting or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yannick-bolasie/when-i-left-bristol-city-for-palace-i-just-wanted-to-be-playing/) [Yannick Bolasie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yannick-bolasie/) > [Ian Holloway played wingers higher up and then wanted us to come back and receive the ball; Dougie Freedman didn't want us to come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yannick-bolasie/ian-holloway-played-wingers-higher-up-and-then-wanted-us-to-come-back/) [Yannick Bolasie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yannick-bolasie/) > [I'm not going to try to live like Eden Hazard, for example. That's a totally different lifestyle. He's gonna have a bigger house, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yannick-bolasie/i-m-not-going-to-try-to-live-like-eden-hazard-for-example-that-s-a/) [Yannick Bolasie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yannick-bolasie/) > [I go to play for Congo now and it's a reality check. You see how it is for some people and you don't take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yannick-bolasie/i-go-to-play-for-congo-now-and-it-s-a-reality-check-you-see-how-it-is/) [Yannick Bolasie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yannick-bolasie/) > [I want to score goals. Everyone says that's the only part of my game that's missing. Before I was a pro I used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yannick-bolasie/i-want-to-score-goals-everyone-says-that-s-the-only-part-of-my-game/) [Yannick Bolasie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yannick-bolasie/) > [Taking on defenders is what gives me a buzz.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yannick-bolasie/taking-on-defenders-is-what-gives-me-a-buzz/) [Yannick Bolasie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yannick-bolasie/) > [In Willesden I was surrounded by quite a few footballers, but a lot of them have fallen off, and that's not something I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yannick-bolasie/in-willesden-i-was-surrounded-by-quite-a-few-footballers-but-a-lot-of/) [Yannick Bolasie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yannick-bolasie/) > [I've always just wanted to play football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yannick-bolasie/i-ve-always-just-wanted-to-play-football/) [Yannick Bolasie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yannick-bolasie/) > [Obviously, no-one's going to watch Belgian football. Nobody is going to watch Portuguese football. But I've played with some players who right now are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yannick-bolasie/obviously-no-one-s-going-to-watch-belgian-football-nobody-is-going-to/) [Yannick Bolasie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yannick-bolasie/) > [Darren Campbell has helped me out a lot with my sprinting mechanics. These are things I've always wanted to do, but neglected as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yannick-bolasie/darren-campbell-has-helped-me-out-a-lot-with-my-sprinting-mechanics/) [Yannick Bolasie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yannick-bolasie/) > [It's crazy because I did say to myself at the age of 16 that I want to be in the Premier League at 24.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yannick-bolasie/it-s-crazy-because-i-did-say-to-myself-at-the-age-of-16-that-i-want/) [Yannick Bolasie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yannick-bolasie/) > [From my estate, where my mum still lives now, from my bedroom you could see Wembley. I go back a lot, my brothers are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yannick-bolasie/from-my-estate-where-my-mum-still-lives-now-from-my-bedroom-you-could/) [Yannick Bolasie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yannick-bolasie/) > [I've played as a winger all of my professional life and I'm looking forward to doing that now in front of the Everton fans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yannick-bolasie/i-ve-played-as-a-winger-all-of-my-professional-life-and-i-m-looking/) [Yannick Bolasie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yannick-bolasie/) [Explore all 25 Yannick Bolasie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yannick-bolasie/) ## More Country quotes > [I love playing for my country, getting the support. Especially for the kids and everybody, showing my example of what I can achieve so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/i-love-playing-for-my-country-getting-the-support-especially-for-the/) [Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/) > [ That country \[Carthage\] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws;… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinking-into-the-state-of-barbarism/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [For the Scottish government, the practice of having meetings in different parts of the country is well established, but for the U.K. government, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/for-the-scottish-government-the-practice-of-having-meetings-in/) [Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/) > [There's no reason someone who has fought for their country should be homeless of jobless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/there-s-no-reason-someone-who-has-fought-for-their-country-should-be/) [Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [It's very nice to be a rebel saying, 'I stand on my principles,' but if in fact that's not going to have any impact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-grieve/it-s-very-nice-to-be-a-rebel-saying-i-stand-on-my-principles-but-if/) [Dominic Grieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-grieve/) > [Most paper money initially existed as a substitute for gold. That's what gave it value. But right now what gives a currency value is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/most-paper-money-initially-existed-as-a-substitute-for-gold-that-s/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [That's what this country is. 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