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World Cup 2010 Comment: The infiltration of Brazil and Argentina stars into the other 30 countries of the tournament
South America has exported more than its share of stars to other nations...
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25 Jun 2010 13:55:00
By Subhankar Mondal
In our World Cup Comment series, individual writers at Goal.com offer their views on the hot World Cup topics of the day with local expertise and a global outlook.....
Brazil and Argentina are two of the most successful footballing nations in the world. The South American giants also happen to be two of the most entertaining sides to watch and have gifted the world the likes of Pele, Romario, Ronaldo, Diego Maradona, Gabriel Batistuta and Lionel Messi (among others) over the years.
Just like in previous tournament, this time around they are two of the favourites to win the World Cup.
However, there are many Brazilian and Argentine footballers who cannot make it to the respective national teams and choose to switch nationalities. Some of them actually go on to play well for their new countries.
For some footballers, it is case of a conflict of 'parental nationalities': Born to an Argentine mother and a father of another nation and finding it tough to play for Argentina, they choose to feature in the colours of their father's nation.
Here are the footballers who despite having connections to either Brazil or Argentina are representing other countries in South Africa.
Guillermo Franco (Mexico)
Guillermo Franco was born in Corrientes, the capital city of the Corrientes Province in Argentina. After playing for San Lorenzo in Argentina, he joined Mexican side C.F. Monterrey in 2002. Two years later Franco became a 'naturalised' Mexican and made his debut for the Mexican national side in 2005. The 33-year-old also featured in the 2006 World Cup.
Jonathan Santana (Paraguay)
Santana was born in Buenos Aires in Argentina to a Paraguayan mother and received Paraguayan citizenship in June 2007. He featured for the South Americans at the Copa America in 2007 and is also part of the 23-man squad for the 2010 World Cup. He plays for German club VfL Wolfsburg as a midfielder.
Lucas Barrios (Paraguay)
The Borussia Dortmund striker was never called up to the Argentine national side and applied for a dual citizenship with Paraguay in early 2010 and got it very soon too. Lucas Barrios is a key striker for La Albirroja at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Nestor Ortigoza (Paraguay)
The 25-year-old was born in San Antonio de Padua in Argentina to a Paraguayan father. In early 2009, Nestor Ortigoza gained Paraguayan citizenship and with Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino showing an inclination, the Argentinos Juniors centre-midfielder made his debut for La Albirroja that very same year.
Mauro Camoranesi (Italy)
The 2006 World Cup-winning Italian international was born in Tandil, Argentina and holds a dual citizenship. Camoranesi made his debut for the Italian national side in 2003 and soon became a very important player for the Azzurri, winning the World Cup in Germany four years ago. The 33-year-old has also played for Italy at Euro 2004 and Euro 2008.
Matias Fernandez (Chile)
'Matigol' was born in the Caballito neighbourhood in Buenos Aires to Argentine mother Mirtha and Chilean father Humberto. The now 24-year-old moved to La Calera in Chile when he was just four. Mati Fernandez captained Chile at the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship and also played for the senior Chilean side at the 2007 Copa America.
Deco (Portugal)
The 32-year-old is widely regarded as one of the best midfielders of his generation and perhaps much of that owes to his Brazilian blood. Deco was born in Brazil but was never called up to the national side. In 1997 the former Barcelona medio moved to Portugal to play his club football for Benfica and after six years received Portuguese citizenship. Deco's debut was against Brazil in an international friendly: he scored a freekick to defeat the South Americans 2-1.
Liedson (Portugal)
The 32-year-old striker moved to Portugal in 2003 when he was signed for Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon. He was never called up to the Brazilian side and having lived in Portugal for six years, Liedson got his passport in 2009 and soon made his debut for the Portuguese national team.
Pepe (Portugal)
The Real Madrid centre-back moved to Portugal when he was 18 as he signed for the B-team of Portuguese club Marítimo in the island of Madeira. Pepe never represented the Brazilian national team at any level and in August 2007 got a Portuguese passport. Pepe often features as a defensive midfielder for Portugal and played for the Europeans at Euro 2008.
Giovani dos Santos (Mexico)
The 21-year-old is the son of former Brazilian footballer Gerardo dos Santos, better known as 'Zizinho'. Giovani's mother, Liliana Ramirez, is a Mexican national. The former Barcelona starlet represented Mexico at the U-17 and U-21 levels and won the FIFA U-17 World Championship in 2005. Giovani also won the CONCACAF Gold Cup with Mexico in 2009.
Marcus Tulio Tanaka (Japan)
Commonly known as Tulio, the 29-year-old is a Brazilian-born Japanese international defender. Marcus was born in Palmeira d'Oeste in Brazil to a second generation Japanese-Brazilian father and Italian-Brazilian mother and moved to Japan when he was 15. He made his debut for Japan in August 2006.
Cacau (Germany)
Claudemir Jeronimo Barretto is a Brazilian-born Germany international striker. The 29-year-old emigrated to Germany when he was 18, and having lived in the European country for over eight years got a German passport in February 2009. The Stuttgart striker has since played in over 10 international matches for the former world champions.
Brazil and Argentina are two of the most successful footballing nations in the world. The South American giants also happen to be two of the most entertaining sides to watch and have gifted the world the likes of Pele, Romario, Ronaldo, Diego Maradona, Gabriel Batistuta and Lionel Messi (among others) over the years.
Just like in previous tournament, this time around they are two of the favourites to win the World Cup.
However, there are many Brazilian and Argentine footballers who cannot make it to the respective national teams and choose to switch nationalities. Some of them actually go on to play well for their new countries.
For some footballers, it is case of a conflict of 'parental nationalities': Born to an Argentine mother and a father of another nation and finding it tough to play for Argentina, they choose to feature in the colours of their father's nation.
Here are the footballers who despite having connections to either Brazil or Argentina are representing other countries in South Africa.
Argentine contingent
Guillermo Franco (Mexico)
Guillermo Franco was born in Corrientes, the capital city of the Corrientes Province in Argentina. After playing for San Lorenzo in Argentina, he joined Mexican side C.F. Monterrey in 2002. Two years later Franco became a 'naturalised' Mexican and made his debut for the Mexican national side in 2005. The 33-year-old also featured in the 2006 World Cup.
Jonathan Santana (Paraguay)
Santana was born in Buenos Aires in Argentina to a Paraguayan mother and received Paraguayan citizenship in June 2007. He featured for the South Americans at the Copa America in 2007 and is also part of the 23-man squad for the 2010 World Cup. He plays for German club VfL Wolfsburg as a midfielder.
Lucas Barrios (Paraguay)
The Borussia Dortmund striker was never called up to the Argentine national side and applied for a dual citizenship with Paraguay in early 2010 and got it very soon too. Lucas Barrios is a key striker for La Albirroja at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Nationality no Barrios to success | Paraguay happily took Argentinian-born forward on
Nestor Ortigoza (Paraguay)
The 25-year-old was born in San Antonio de Padua in Argentina to a Paraguayan father. In early 2009, Nestor Ortigoza gained Paraguayan citizenship and with Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino showing an inclination, the Argentinos Juniors centre-midfielder made his debut for La Albirroja that very same year.
Mauro Camoranesi (Italy)
The 2006 World Cup-winning Italian international was born in Tandil, Argentina and holds a dual citizenship. Camoranesi made his debut for the Italian national side in 2003 and soon became a very important player for the Azzurri, winning the World Cup in Germany four years ago. The 33-year-old has also played for Italy at Euro 2004 and Euro 2008.
Happy champion | Camoranesi won the World Cup with his adopted country in 2006
Matias Fernandez (Chile)
'Matigol' was born in the Caballito neighbourhood in Buenos Aires to Argentine mother Mirtha and Chilean father Humberto. The now 24-year-old moved to La Calera in Chile when he was just four. Mati Fernandez captained Chile at the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship and also played for the senior Chilean side at the 2007 Copa America.
Brazilian contingent
Deco (Portugal)
The 32-year-old is widely regarded as one of the best midfielders of his generation and perhaps much of that owes to his Brazilian blood. Deco was born in Brazil but was never called up to the national side. In 1997 the former Barcelona medio moved to Portugal to play his club football for Benfica and after six years received Portuguese citizenship. Deco's debut was against Brazil in an international friendly: he scored a freekick to defeat the South Americans 2-1.
Liedson (Portugal)
The 32-year-old striker moved to Portugal in 2003 when he was signed for Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon. He was never called up to the Brazilian side and having lived in Portugal for six years, Liedson got his passport in 2009 and soon made his debut for the Portuguese national team.
Pepe (Portugal)
The Real Madrid centre-back moved to Portugal when he was 18 as he signed for the B-team of Portuguese club Marítimo in the island of Madeira. Pepe never represented the Brazilian national team at any level and in August 2007 got a Portuguese passport. Pepe often features as a defensive midfielder for Portugal and played for the Europeans at Euro 2008.
Making the switch | Pepe was absorbed into the Portuguese system at an early age
Giovani dos Santos (Mexico)
The 21-year-old is the son of former Brazilian footballer Gerardo dos Santos, better known as 'Zizinho'. Giovani's mother, Liliana Ramirez, is a Mexican national. The former Barcelona starlet represented Mexico at the U-17 and U-21 levels and won the FIFA U-17 World Championship in 2005. Giovani also won the CONCACAF Gold Cup with Mexico in 2009.
Marcus Tulio Tanaka (Japan)
Commonly known as Tulio, the 29-year-old is a Brazilian-born Japanese international defender. Marcus was born in Palmeira d'Oeste in Brazil to a second generation Japanese-Brazilian father and Italian-Brazilian mother and moved to Japan when he was 15. He made his debut for Japan in August 2006.
Cacau (Germany)
Claudemir Jeronimo Barretto is a Brazilian-born Germany international striker. The 29-year-old emigrated to Germany when he was 18, and having lived in the European country for over eight years got a German passport in February 2009. The Stuttgart striker has since played in over 10 international matches for the former world champions.
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