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If You Could Make One Player English, Who Would It Be?

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A fun little debate for this hump-day. It's a question that I ask myself all the time.

David Ramos

When I was growing up through my teens, I always wondered what it would be like had Ryan Giggs decided to continue his career from England school-boys to the national team, would we have a World Cup? would we have won a European Championship, Giggs in his prime was outstanding. Unfortunately instead of seeing Giggs race down our left touchline, we've been treated to the likes of Trevor Sinclair, Anderton and Joe Cole.

So here is a fun topic to debate, if you could make any player in the World English, who would it be?

Obviously I immediately went to two players, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. I think most people would, but I'm not sure adding Messi wouldn't necessarily make us World beaters. He does rely on the communication and quality of his central midfield comrades like Xavi and Iniesta, and of course the intelligent runs of Fabregas.

Ronaldo is player who would make more sense, as he can change a game without involving another player. How many times have been seen him lash in a goal from 25 yards out, or pick the ball up on the half-way line and weave his way into the box, and then finish it.

However as I thought about this more, I started to think that the one aspect that England are lacking, is the killer ball. We have Rooney and Sturridge who do get themselves into great positions but the ball from midfield is often lacking. So the player that I would turn English in a heartbeat is:

Xavier "Xavi" Hernández i Creus

Last year,Xavi had a pass completion % of 94.8. Which is just astronomical, add in his assists and goals and his general ability to break up play and quickly advance the ball and he is just too good. England don't have anyone even close to his ability and I think his passing ability instantly improves the performance of his team-mates. It's a lot easier to score, if the assist is pinpointed. You can add Iniesta and nobody would say a word as they are both outstanding players, but for me, Overall Xavi is the better player. My only problem would be that Xavi is now 33 years old so we couldn't get much traction out of him.

So if you could make any one player English for the rest of his career.....who would you select?