National Pride

you called

As a NI fan, I'd sooner have 11 local lads (local as in East Belfast, West Belfast, Londonderry, Armgh, where ever in NI) pulling on the green shirt - than those with tenuous links to my wee country and with (probably) less of afinity - even if they were apparently better players than the ones found locally.

For better or for worse, International football doesn't work like that. You even have some players being selected for foreign countries simply because they have a political desire or some other such bullshaite.

Nah, 11 local lads for me, but I appreciate it doesn't work that way.

I've lost my "national pride" because Scotland is a cesspit nowadays.

I don't think conception has anything to do with it.......

But anyway, It's a tricky issue.

My instincts are to only want born and bred Scots but then you see guys like Morrison, Bardsley etc who turn up for games and really look like they have burning desire to represent Scotland. Or Matt Gilks who has sat on the bench since committing to Scotland and could easily have chucked it but still turns up for squads. Compare that to the likes of Steven Fletcher. I know who I'd rather have representing my country.

Then there's Jordan Rhodes, his schooling being his only link to Scotland but has come through the ranks and wouldn't dream of playing for anyone else. This is a boy who will be in the EPL within a year or two and presuming he continues to score at that level would be in for a shout for an England cap.

So, no it's not that simple and I don't think it diminishes the national pride. Just wait til the 8th and see a packed Hampden roaring it's lungs out.....at least before kick off