Imagine an England team with Erling Haaland, Antoine Semenyo, and Scott McTominay.
That’s just a glimpse of what could have been for the Three Lions.
Here, Daily Mail Sport brings you a full XI who might have represented England in another life.
Most were born in England but had connections to other countries via their parents, while others started abroad but moved here at a young age.
Goalkeeper: Marvin Keller
Keller, a 23-year-old goalkeeper for Switzerland, was born in London.
He probably wouldn’t trouble Jordan Pickford just yet, but he has made a good start to his career with BSC Young Boys, becoming their first-choice goalkeeper.
The 6ft3in custodian has won one Swiss Super League and picked up Champions League experience.
Right back: Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Wan-Bissaka was born in Croydon, London, and represented England up to Under-21 level but chose to play for his parental homeland, DR Congo, in 2025.
The tough-tackling West Ham star – who last season surprised fans with a more attacking emphasis – was frustrated by a lack of opportunities with England.
He did make a Three Lions squad in September 2019 but was forced to withdraw with a back issue. Who knows what could have been?
Aaron Wan-Bissaka was born in Croydon but overlooked by England and plays for DR Congo
Centre back: Luc de Fougerolles
De Fougerolles was, like many of the players on this list, born in London, and now turns out for Canada, where his father is from.
The centre-half came through Fulham’s academy and made his debut in 2023 but has been on the fringes of the team.
Last season he was loaned out to Dender EH, who came last in the Belgian Pro League, but the 20-year-old is tipped for a big future.
Centre back: Axel Tuanzebe
Tuanzebe was born in Bunia, Dr Congo – hooray for some variety – but moved to England aged eight. Copycat!
The defender, 28, was scouted by Manchester United as a youngster and went on to make 37 first-team appearances, but is now at Burnley.
Another name who could have been in with a shout but chose to play for DR Congo in 2024.
Left back: Antonee Robinson
Robinson, 28, had the misfortune of being born in Milton Keynes and perhaps it’s no surprise he chose to represent the United States, where his father is a citizen.
The full-back, nicknamed ‘Jedi’, grew up in Liverpool and was scouted by Everton but never broke into the senior team.
He has found a footballing home at Fulham and in 2018 committed his international future to the US.
Antonee Robinson has never lived in the USA but represents them via his father’s citizenship
Central midfield: Scott McTominay
McTominay might be the pride of Scotland but his accent is Lancastrian for a reason.
Born and raised in England, the Manchester academy graduate qualifies for the Tartan Army through his father.
Now a poster boy for Napoli aged 29, he is one of the biggest ‘ones that got away’ – but he had wanted to play for Scotland since his childhood and had been encouraged to do so by Sir Alex Ferguson.
Central midfield: Giovanni Reyna
Reyna spent the first five years of his life in Sunderland and Manchester, where his father Claudio played, but they moved to the USA aged after that.
Both of his parents are American, so it’s hard to blame the Borussia Monchengladbach creator, 23, for choosing to walk with the star-spangled army.
He’s now one of America’s most prodigious talents in attacking midfield – we’ve had to shove him further back to squeeze him in this team.
Right wing: Michael Olise
Olise is the potential next Ballon d’Or winner and he plays for France despite being born in London. Let that sink in, ladies and gentlemen.
The Bayern Munich superstar, who scored 22 goals and provided 31 assists last season, has never even lived in France.
But the 24-year-old’s mother is Franco-Algerian (his father is British-Nigerian) and he has represented Les Bleus since youth level. Sigh.
Michael Olise could have played for England, but now he might be shushing them
Attacking midfield: Jamal Musiala
Musiala is the definition of a player who slipped through the net.
Granted, he was born in Stuttgart, Germany, to a German mum, but he also had a Nigerian-British dad and moved to England aged seven.
He moved back to Germany aged 16 and joined Bayern Munich but played for England all the way up to the Under-21s. At one point, a German youth coach even said they had given up on trying to bag him.
But in 2021, he made the surprise decision to play for Die Mannschaft, claiming he saw better opportunities with them moving forward.
The 23-year-old – a leading light for both Bayern and Germany – could have been a game-changer for England.
Left wing: Antoine Semenyo
Semenyo was born in Chelsea, London, and has spent his entire life developing his football career on these shores.
But the Manchester City ace, 26, was born to Ghanaian parents (his mother is also half-French) and delighted them when he chose to play for the African nation while at Bristol City in 2022.
Semenyo wasn’t to know that he would become one of the Premier League’s most talented forwards, but you do wonder whether he’d pick England these days now he’d likely be a shoe-in for the squad.
Antoine Semenyo has always lived in England but qualifies for Ghana through his parents
Striker: Erling Haaland
It’s always amusing to think that Haaland is from Leeds.
What could have been, eh? The Man City net-buster did admittedly have two Norwegian parents, including international footballer Alf-Inge, but he grew up as a fan of Leeds.
Unfortunately, he moved back to Norway aged three and was always on track to play for them as he surged through the youth groups.
At least the 25-year-old has spared Thomas Tuchel an almighty headache of how to accommodate him and Harry Kane.
