admindual-nationality as he was born in Jamaica to Jamaican parents, but he has represented England at every level from under-16 upwards and made his senior debut in the 4-2 friendly loss to Sweden in November. The fact that the game in Stockholm was non-competitive means that Sterling could still opt to play for Jamaica, but he told several British newspapers yesterday that he was committed to playing for England.
“It was a dream come true (to play against Sweden),” he said. “As a 15-year-old, I can remember sitting at home and praying to get an Under-16 call-up, so to be getting a senior call-up a few years later was one of the best things that ever happened to me.
“I want to keep driving on and do a bit more. Obviously I’ve got Jamaican roots, but no-one tried to put any pressure on me, which was the good thing.
“But I couldn’t turn my back on England because I’ve grown up through the English youth system and progressed from there.
“I couldn’t just switch over. So it was a good thing for me to be called up and make my debut. It’s 100 percent going to be England from now on.”
Liverpool announced on Friday that Sterling had signed a new long-term contract with the club.
The former Queens Park Rangers player only made his Liverpool debut in March, but he has quickly become an integral component of manager Brendan Rodgers’ side.
Meanwhile, veteran American goalkeeper Brad Friedel has extended his contract with Tottenham Hotspur until 2014, the Premier League club announced yesterday.
At 41, Friedel is the oldest player in the Premier League and he is also the only man in the history of the division to start 300 consecutive matches.
He started the season as the first-choice goalkeeper at White Hart Lane but has since lost his place in the side to close-season signing Hugo Lloris, the France international.
Friedel, who has 82 international caps for the United States, has been playing in England since 1997, when he joined Liverpool. — AFP.
leeroy