Five athletes who could've played for England but didn't

Simone Perrotta celebrates Italy's 2006 World Cup success. Credit: Tony Marshall/EMPICS Sport

Jack Wilshere's comment that "the only people who should play for England are English people" has caused controversy with cricketer Kevin Pietersen questioning him on Twitter.

However, the sports stars below were all eligible to play for England at one point in their career but chose a different path.

Here are five sports stars that England missed out on.

Simone Perrotta - Italy

The midfielder probably does not regret choosing to play football for Italy instead of England - the country of his birth.

Perrotta played an important part in Italy's 2006 World Cup win, starting every single game.

He also enjoyed a successful career in Serie A, playing for Juventus and Roma, where he stayed until his retirement earlier this year.

Perrotta was born in Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside, and spent the first six years of his life in England.

Andrew Symonds - Australia

The former cricketer won two World Cups and helped Australia whitewash England in the 2006-07 Ashes series.

Andrew Symonds was born in Birmingham and adopted by English schoolteachers. Credit: Jon Buckle/EMPICS Sport

The all-rounder was born in Birmingham and was eligible to play for England and the West Indies, due to his ancestry.

Symonds was adopted by English schoolteachers Ken and Barbara and they all emigrated to Australia when he was a toddler.

Fiona May - Italy

The Italian long jumper won two silver Olympic Games medals in Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000, as well as two gold World Championship medals.

May, who was born in Slough, raised in Derby and went to university in Leeds, originally competed for Great Britain but became an Italian citizen in 1994 after marrying pole vaulter Gianni Iapichino.

Fiona May holds up her Sydney 2000 Olympic silver medal. Credit: Tony Marshall/EMPICS Sport

Since retiring in 2006, May won Italy's version of US hit show Dancing with the Stars and has appeared in television dramas.

When asked by the Independent in 2012 whether she regretted changing her allegiances, May said: "All I can say is I'm proud of my own achievements".

George North - Wales

The Welsh winger has already made 31 appearances for his country at the age of 21 and gained notoriety when playing for the Lions and carrying out a "fireman's lift" on Australia's Israel Folau.

George North performed a "fireman's lift" on Israel Folau. Credit: David Davies/PA Wire

Despite his young age, North has helped Wales win the last two Six Nations tournaments and he was part of the team that trounced England 30-3 earlier this year.

The rugby union star was, however, born in King's Lynn to a Welsh mother and an English father.

The family moved to Hong Kong when North was around three months old and they stayed there for a couple of years before heading to Wales.

Victor Moses - Nigeria

The Chelsea star who is on loan at Liverpool played for every England team up to under 21 level but decided to pledge his international future to his country of birth Nigeria.

Moses moved to Britain aged 11 after his parents were killed in Nigeria by rioters.

Victor Moses was born in Lagos but qualified to play for England. Credit: Richard Sellers/EMPICS Sport

He settled down with foster parents in England and enrolled in Crystal Palace's youth academy before earning moves to Wigan Athletic and then Chelsea.

The winger told the Daily Mirror he decided to play for Nigeria because then-England manager Fabio Capello did not contact him about a call-up.