With the European Championship in full swing in Austria and Switzerland we take a look at some players who could have also represented an African nation. There could have been more Afro-European players present if Belgium, which has many players of Congolese origin, had qualified.Unsurprisingly, the players on show at Euro 2008 could easily form a formidable team of their own.Undoubtedly, France with a long tradition of using African-born talent has the largest Afro contingent. Claude Makelele and Steve Madanda were born in Congo DR; Patrick Vieira and Patrice Evra could have played for Senegal; Lassana Diarra’s family is from Mali; and Sidney Govou is the son of a former Beninois international. The two stars of the new generation of players, Karim Benzema and Samir Nasri, are of Algerian descent. The dawning era has been heralded as “Benasri” by the French, and Nasri has been nicknamed the ‘new Zidane,’ as he also grew up in the south of France in an immigrant family. The latest addition to Les Bleus, Bafetimbi Gomis, flirted between France and Senegal, before eventually making the French team.

Other European countries are not left out. Eusebio, Portugal’s greatest player, was born in Mozambique and is frequently seen in the stands cheering on the ‘Seleccao das Quinas’ at the ongoing championship. In the current squad, Nani and Miguel have ties to Cape Verde, while new Chelsea signing Jose Bosingwa was born in Congo DR. Switzerland has a midfield gem in Gelson Fernandes, who could have laced his boots for Cape Verde, as well as Arsenal’s Johan Djorou of Ivorian origin.

Fans of the Black Stars of Ghana will see winger David Odonkor in the German squad. While Sweden can boast of former Barcelona and Manchester United striker Henrik Larsson, who also has links to Cape Verde; and goalkeeper Rami Schaaban, who almost played for the Pharaohs of Egypt. Finally, with many Moroccans living in the Netherlands, two of them, Khalid Boulahrouz and Ibrahim Afellay are in the Oranje Euro 2008 squad.The line-up below, in a 4-2-2 formation, would surely give teams at the Euros or the African Nations Cup a run for their money. GK: Madanda DF: Bosingwa, Miguel, Boulahrouz, Evra MF: Nasri, Vieira, Makelele, Nani FW: Benzema, Larsson Subs: Schabaan, Djorou, Diarra, Fernandes, Govou, Odonkor, Afellay, Gomis