Williams opts for Socceroos

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http://www.teamtalk.com/football/story/ ... 93,00.html
Williams opts for Socceroos
Middlesbrough youngster Rhys Williams has decided he wants to play international football for Australia instead of Wales.

Williams, who had been on loan at Burnley since January, was born in Perth, Western Australia, and has now applied to FIFA to be allowed to switch his allegiance.

He helped Burnley into the Championship play-offs but his loan ended before the matches with Reading this week.

The defender has played 10 times for the Wales Under-21 side but although called up several occasions for the seniors, he has yet to win a full cap.

He has to make any decision over the change of country before he turns 21 in July, and after discussions with Australia coach Pim Verbeek - who made a special trip to the UK to talk to Williams last month - he has now opted to play for the country of his birth.

The decision has disappointed the Football Association of Wales, as well as under-21 coach Brian Flynn.

It is believed to have stemmed from the player's annoyance that he was not given his first full cap in either of the last two World Cup qualifiers with Finland and Germany in March and April.

He said at the time: "I was a bit upset that I didn't play last time in one of the matches after being selected for the squad.

"I had been doing well at Burnley, but it is not me who picks the team."

The move has also caught out Middlesbrough, who were believed initially not to have known of the player's decision.

Williams' dissatisfaction at his treatment with Wales may also have been fuelled by the fact that after being selected for the full squad for the Finland and Germany games, he was flown to Luxembourg at the last moment along with Oldham's Neal Eardley to play in an under-21 game.

He also played in the next under-21 qualifier at Llanelli, the night before the Germany game on April 1.

Williams, the son of an English immigrant father and Indian immigrant mother, qualifies for Wales because he has a Welsh grandfather.

FAW spokesman Ceri Stennett said: "Rhys has informed us that he wants now to play for Australia.

"The wheels are now in motion, and a decision will be made by FIFA's transfer committee. But it looks like a fait accompli now."

The irony of the situation is that Williams would have been selected for the home friendly with Estonia on May 29 and would almost certainly have won his first cap.

It was then expected that he would also have been included in the squad to travel to Baku in June, where he would also have played his first competitive international against Azerbaijan.

That would have tied Williams to Wales, and there may be some criticism of Wales boss John Toshack for not having capped the six-footer in a World Cup qualifier earlier.

But it now seems likely that Williams will make his full debut for Australia in their next World Cup match away to Qatar on June 6 - the same day that Wales face Azerbaijan.

[Old Master]

He's a pretty useful player from what I've heard.

A good long-term player.

[OldRedback]

He's a pretty useful player from what I've heard.

A good long-term player.

The Soccerwhos must be stoked that a Burnley player has said that he will play for them.

[sparrow]

This is what shits me about International rulings. I was born in Australia but I have a pet German Shepherd so I may play my International football for Germany.

Go get fucked, born in Perth, grandfather from Wales, cant get a game for Wales so to show my digust at not being picked I'll go play for the country i was born in.

This is where we as a Country with any pride should just say 'Fuck You tosser we don't want you'

[OldRedback]

........more competition to get into the German team my friend - probably better off getting a Lichtenstein terrier!