As a holder of an Italian passport, Speroni could play for Italy. Moreover, having lived in England for over a decade, he could, according to Fifa nationality rules, even represent a country whose goalkeeping issues are well documented. Speroni is well placed to consider the case of Fraser Forster, with former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton among those voicing concern that someone playing in the Scottish leagues can be expected to cope with performing at the very highest level of the World Cup finals.
“I can understand why somebody might say that – I played in Scotland and I think it is a great league obviously but it is not as strong as the English Premier League,” says Speroni. “But I also believe football is football. And I think if you play well then why not? The same thing happened with me in the Championship. Am I a better goalkeeper now because I am in the Premier League? I don’t think so.”
Speroni has had to deal with his own disappointment at being omitted from Alejandro Sabella’s squad for next month’s friendly with Romania. He had been encouraged to think that he might have been selected since Argentina’s goalkeeping woes are even more pronounced than England’s. Their No 1, Sergio Romero, is currently No 2 at Monaco, and his understudy, Catania’s Mariano Andujar, is also not a regular at club level. Palace supporters have been in ferment that their hero might be starring at the World Cup. Wednesday’s news is therefore a blow.
Although Speroni has not ruled out appearing in Brazil, he accepts that his chances have become slimmer still.
“I do not want to get my hopes higher than they should be,” he says. “I am realistic. I know the manager has been working with the same group of players for the last three years. But to be honest with you, I really do feel like I deserve the chance to show what I can do, just one chance.”
“I could apply for British citizenship,” he adds, playfully. “Another journalist from Argentina contacted me about this possibility, and I said to him: because I have been here for such a long time, and because I started my career in Scotland, and I was so welcomed, I will always be thankful. And it is the same in England. I have nearly played my whole career here. Ten years now. I will always be thankful of that, and how welcomed I was.
“Obviously my heart at the moment is with the Argentina national team. I want to represent my country. But of course if the opportunity came… I give you an example. I have an Italian passport but I don’t have a connection with Italy apart from family history. I don’t think I could play for them. But in Scotland and England I do have that connection. I would be proud to represent them.”
Should the unthinkable happen and he has to leave Palace, remaining in England, where his son Thiago has just started school, is his preference. However, he will always have the memories of his time in Dundee as well as a guitar picked up in the city’s Wellgate shopping centre, and on which the Hands of God have learned how to pluck out several tunes. Now he has graduated to playing in front of an audience. “I can play at Wembley in front of 80, 000 but I get more nervous in front of 15 people in church,” he smiles.
many many thanks Alan for allowing me to put this on the articles!