“At 10 Downing Street, Cherie Blair said, ‘You’re the Canadian player – why do you play for England?’ I was like, ‘Sorry, what?’ It was odd and it kind of hurt” Owen Hargreaves opens up on dealing with criticism over his international allegiances

England midfielder Owen Hargreaves in action against Sweden at the 2002 World Cup.

Owen Hargreaves was a staple in the England set-up throughout the mid-2010s, winning 42 caps and playing in three major tournaments for the Three Lions.

But his pathway to the England team did not follow the typical route, as he became the first player to have played for the Three Lions without having previously lived in the country.