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The English translation of the above Lithuanian text is as follows:
The English national team rejected the Brazilian defender Edu, who represents the club. The 25-year-old "gunner's" desire to become a fully-fledged Englishman and play at the European Championship did not receive approval from the English Football Federation.
Last week, the Brazilian legionnaire, representing London's Arsenal, who regularly features in the club's main lineup but has never been called up to the Brazilian national team, finally lost hope of joining his compatriots' team and offered his services to the England national team coach, Sven-Goran Eriksson.
Disappointed by such indifference from his compatriots, Edu decided to defend the honor of the England national team at Euro 2004. Brazil was left with a small consolation - to obtain Eriksson's approval. In order for the Swedish specialist to accept Edu's favorable decision, the Brazilian presented the following argument: "I believe I can be useful to the England national team. It's no secret that the English need left-footed players, and that's exactly what I am."
In response, the English football officials said: "Eduardo Gaspar's invitation to the England national team is not possible due to not having British citizenship." And added: "Eduardo Gaspar does not have British citizenship, and it is unlikely that he will acquire it before the start of the European Championship. Additionally, the new FIFA rules have made the naturalization process for players more difficult, and we do not want to take the risk of inviting Edu. After all, the English Football Association believes that English footballers should play in the England national team."
However, some double standards are encountered here. English football officials do not hide the fact that they did not overlook inviting a goalkeeper to the national team, who became a British citizen last year and has never represented the Italian national team. Edu's situation is absolutely identical (if citizenship was granted before the European Championship), but the English do not believe that they should fight for the Brazilian player.
Evidently, the English Football Association is more interested in an Italian goalkeeper than in a Brazilian defensive midfielder. To fight for two players would be too much for the English football officials, as FIFA is trying to strictly oppose similar player transfers from one national team to another.
Whatever the case may be, it is possible that the English are making a mistake by simply distancing the technical and intelligent Brazilian player. Of course, the national team's defensive line is assembled quite well, but they do not have a skillful left-footed player like Edu. Especially since Arsenal's Arsene Wenger does not consider midfielders in his club to be average.
