I'd probably say I support Konta, but it's not the same as say Murray or Watson who were born in the UK (or Channel Islands for Watson) and/or have British parents.
To be fair to Froome at least his parents are British, i think his dad even played hockey for England.
Yes thats correct about Froome snr
Funnily on that basis he's more English than Bradley Wiggins whose Dad was Australian, just happened that a period of Froome's youth was spent in Kenya.
My Grandad was born in India because my Great-Grandfather remained in the Army after the First World War but doesnt make either of us Indian!!
Has ANY part of Chris Froome's life actually been spent in the UK? Born in Kenya, educated there and S Africa, now lives in Monaco?
At least Konta lives in the UK, albeit she didn't really move here until 15/16 (having gone to a Barcelona academy first after leaving Australia).
To be fair, that part of Froome's life I dont know... Although like a Formula One racer its probably difficult for a cyclist to be based in one country seeing that they're forever moving around the World
Why are people wetting themselves with excitement about a woman who wasn't born or brought up here , born to non British parents who spends most of her time out of the country as if she's British?
Quite weird.
I guess you could say the same about many sportsmen, Lennox Lewis represented Canada in the Olympics. For me she is representing my country so gets my support.
the representing countries is ridiculous if i was good at any sport i could play for england, scotland or roi.
although for some people, it makes sense eoin morgan example irish cricket isnt no where near as good as english cricket, australian's/kiwis cant play english club rugby and there national side.
although i do think people like jack grealish make a mockery of the system played for irish youth teams then jumped ship as thought he would get into the english side, for other players it gives them an international career johnathon walters being one, it has given him opportunites to play in major comps.
the representing countries is ridiculous if i was good at any sport i could play for england, scotland or roi.
although for some people, it makes sense eoin morgan example irish cricket isnt no where near as good as english cricket, australian's/kiwis cant play english club rugby and there national side.
although i do think people like jack grealish make a mockery of the system played for irish youth teams then jumped ship as thought he would get into the english side, for other players it gives them an international career johnathon walters being one, it has given him opportunites to play in major comps.
What I find really unsavoury is home nations (and Ireland) fighting for young players, trying to get them to commit when in their teens so that they are "fixed" to that country. I'm sure Wales called up someone aged around 18 for a recent competitive international, well before he's ready, so that he can't play for England later.
Grealish may have played for Irish youth teams, but only because of Irish grandparents. Personally I think grandparents is too far back, as you end up with players with tenuous links to a country representing it.
the representing countries is ridiculous if i was good at any sport i could play for england, scotland or roi.
although for some people, it makes sense eoin morgan example irish cricket isnt no where near as good as english cricket, australian's/kiwis cant play english club rugby and there national side.
although i do think people like jack grealish make a mockery of the system played for irish youth teams then jumped ship as thought he would get into the english side, for other players it gives them an international career johnathon walters being one, it has given him opportunites to play in major comps.
What I find really unsavoury is home nations (and Ireland) fighting for young players, trying to get them to commit when in their teens so that they are "fixed" to that country. I'm sure Wales called up someone aged around 18 for a recent competitive international, well before he's ready, so that he can't play for England later.
Grealish may have played for Irish youth teams, but only because of Irish grandparents. Personally I think grandparents is too far back, as you end up with players with tenuous links to a country representing it.
Yeah Wales have done it twice now with two Liverpool Strikers... Ben Woodburn was the latest
Cases like Diego Costa are the biggest joke though
i.e. Played for Brazil in friendlies and then changes to Spain when he's 25-years old!!
It only really bothers me if the nationality change is done to take advantage of facilities or it hinders the progress of someone younger who is born and raised here, neither of which Konta has done really. Listening to her she speaks better English than i do and certainly sounds posher!!
I think she pretty much funded herself and her training in Spain and the amount of young girls wanting to take up tennis on the back of her rise up the rankings can only be a good thing for the women's game.
I would rather Konta succeed as someone who moved to UK as a child and then took British Citizenship, then a sportsman who is allowed to play for the country just through living here for 4 years or someone who has one grandparent being English.
I would rather Konta succeed as someone who moved to UK as a child and then took British Citizenship, then a sportsman who is allowed to play for the country just through living here for 4 years or someone who has one grandparent being English.
Her parents live in Eastbourne, she has lived here since she was 14. Politicians aside, I'm proud of my country and the freedoms we so easily take for granted - but I had no choice in the matter being born here to British parents. For someone to choose to want to call themselves British, take that nationality and be proud to represent their country in a way means so much more.
It only really bothers me if the nationality change is done to take advantage of facilities or it hinders the progress of someone younger who is born and raised here, neither of which Konta has done really. Listening to her she speaks better English than i do and certainly sounds posher!!
I think she pretty much funded herself and her training in Spain and the amount of young girls wanting to take up tennis on the back of her rise up the rankings can only be a good thing for the women's game.
That's exactly why she moved to England.
"Australia is so far and we were looking for either a base in Europe or the US just to be at the heart of things"
It only really bothers me if the nationality change is done to take advantage of facilities or it hinders the progress of someone younger who is born and raised here, neither of which Konta has done really. Listening to her she speaks better English than i do and certainly sounds posher!!
I think she pretty much funded herself and her training in Spain and the amount of young girls wanting to take up tennis on the back of her rise up the rankings can only be a good thing for the women's game.
That's exactly why she moved to England.
"Australia is so far and we were looking for either a base in Europe or the US just to be at the heart of things"
Surely she means at the heart of the women's tour which is predominantly based in Europe and the US, i very much doubt the Aussie Tennis training facilities are worse than ours.
the representing countries is ridiculous if i was good at any sport i could play for england, scotland or roi.
although for some people, it makes sense eoin morgan example irish cricket isnt no where near as good as english cricket, australian's/kiwis cant play english club rugby and there national side.
although i do think people like jack grealish make a mockery of the system played for irish youth teams then jumped ship as thought he would get into the english side, for other players it gives them an international career johnathon walters being one, it has given him opportunites to play in major comps.
What I find really unsavoury is home nations (and Ireland) fighting for young players, trying to get them to commit when in their teens so that they are "fixed" to that country. I'm sure Wales called up someone aged around 18 for a recent competitive international, well before he's ready, so that he can't play for England later.
Grealish may have played for Irish youth teams, but only because of Irish grandparents. Personally I think grandparents is too far back, as you end up with players with tenuous links to a country representing it.
that's my point about grandparents, i know a guy i went school with played for northern Ireland youth teams, he ended up getting a scholarship in america playing "soccer", ended up with a business degree of some sorts and had a really nice college life he was in la for 3 years,works in the city now.
of the current england national team
only raheem stirling was neither born in england or has english born parents.
It's called patriotism. Sport is about passion. Why not get behind a genuine Brit?
Agreed... What next, an Englishman supporting Germany at the World Cup because they're fed up of not seeing their country win anything? - If Tennis was based on the individual Nations could understand an Englishman not getting behind a Scot but seeing its...
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Funnily on that basis he's more English than Bradley Wiggins whose Dad was Australian, just happened that a period of Froome's youth was spent in Kenya.
My Grandad was born in India because my Great-Grandfather remained in the Army after the First World War but doesnt make either of us Indian!!
At least Konta lives in the UK, albeit she didn't really move here until 15/16 (having gone to a Barcelona academy first after leaving Australia).
For me she is representing my country so gets my support.
although for some people, it makes sense eoin morgan example irish cricket isnt no where near as good as english cricket, australian's/kiwis cant play english club rugby and there national side.
although i do think people like jack grealish make a mockery of the system played for irish youth teams then jumped ship as thought he would get into the english side, for other players it gives them an international career johnathon walters being one, it has given him opportunites to play in major comps.
Grealish may have played for Irish youth teams, but only because of Irish grandparents. Personally I think grandparents is too far back, as you end up with players with tenuous links to a country representing it.
Cases like Diego Costa are the biggest joke though
i.e. Played for Brazil in friendlies and then changes to Spain when he's 25-years old!!
Listening to her she speaks better English than i do and certainly sounds posher!!
I think she pretty much funded herself and her training in Spain and the amount of young girls wanting to take up tennis on the back of her rise up the rankings can only be a good thing for the women's game.
"Australia is so far and we were looking for either a base in Europe or the US just to be at the heart of things"
of the current england national team
only raheem stirling was neither born in england or has english born parents.
Andy Murray (GBR) he's representing Great Britain