These are some players who preferred not to play for the teams of their Latin countries and now they will not play the World Cup

According to the rules of the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA), a player who has played at an international level of seniors cannot play for another selection. This allows the selections to be represented by national players and not for the convenience of soccer quality or money.

Due to this measure, several players born in Latin America or with ties to the countries lose their power to play the World Cup in Russia due to having played with another team or having declared wanting to represent another country.

USA instead of Colombia

Alejandro Bedoya is a soccer player born in the state of New Jersey in the United States, but of Colombian parents. He currently plays as midfielder in the Philadelphia Union of MLS. Bedoya decided from a very young age to play for the North American country despite having repeatedly expressed his pride for his Colombian roots.

A very Colombian African

In recent years, the Colombia team has suffered from the absence of a substitute goalkeeper from David Ospina. The great performances that the goalkeeper of the Arsenal of England has had in the national team leaves no doubt who should take care of the Colombian goal. However, for the position of second goalkeeper it has been necessary to resort to several local players who do not approach the level of Ospina. He even discussed the possibility of nationalizing and convoking the Argentine Franco Armani, who was champion of the Copa Libertadores with Atlético Nacional and was recognized as the best goalkeeper in the Colombian league.

That is why Carlos Bejarano, goalkeeper of América de Cali, was asked to be called and seen in the Colombia team. What many did not know was that the goalkeeper born in Quibdó Chocó was nationalized Equatorial Guinean (from Equatorial Guinea) and played one with his team. Although he missed the chance to go to a World Cup with his country of birth, he insists on not regretting his decision. The irony of this story is that Bejarano was not summoned again by the Central African country.

Preferred a world champion, but does not play world

Gianluca Lapadula Vargas, Italian soccer player of Peruvian mother, refused in February 2016 to play with the national team of his mother. The coach of the Inca team, Ricardo Gareca, offered to defend the bicolor to be able to take it to a world cup after 36 years. However, the player born in Turin preferred to wait for the call of the Azurra, 4 times world champion and usual assistant in the maximum party of FIFA.

Indeed, after rejecting Peru, Lapadulla was summoned by the Italian national team, where he played a couple of games. Finally, the European team was eliminated at the hands of the Swedish national team, while Peru won its ticket as a repechage by defeating New Zealand.

Azurra for Canarinha

Thiago Motta is a renowned player from Italo-Brazil. He was born in Sao Bernardo do Campo in Brazil, but was nationalized Italian. Motta has played for teams such as Barcelona, ​​Atlético de Madrid, Inter, and Paris Saint Germain.

For many years, Motta played for the youth teams of Brazil, but after not being called again, he said he would choose Italy over Brazil. Finally, and after having expressed his intentions for a long time, in 2011 he was summoned to play with La Nazionale. The player of Italian origin even participated in the 2014 World Cup played in his native country.

However, now, due to the elimination of Italy, Thiago Motta is left without the possibility of being called to play in Russia.

Mexico and USA

Chapter to part deserves the story of players of dual Mexican and American nationality. Players like Edgar Castillo, Omar Gonzalez, Joe Corona, Michael Orozco, Hercules Gomez, among others, cannot be considered by coach Juan Carlos Osorio for playing with the United States.

Latin American Post | Santiago Gómez Hernández

Translated from "Fútbol: Hoy ellos se arrepienten por no jugar por Latinoamérica"