Finn Azaz💚 Finn could have played for England, Israel or Ireland. He chose Ireland. "It was always Ireland." Don’t let anyone try to argue and tell you otherwise! His father Tim grew up in Cork, and Finn came visited Ireland often as a child. His great uncle is Brian Murphy, the Cork dual star who won All-Irelands in hurling and football. Growing up in Birmingham, Finn was as sharp off the pitch as on it. Nine A*s at GCSE at King Edward's School, then A-Levels in French and Business while a scholar at West Brom. He even kept studying French and Spanish afterwards, just for his own personal development. On loan at Plymouth, he quietly volunteered once a week at St Luke's Hospice. After he left the staff spoke, describing him as having "a heart of pure gold." He gave patients VIP treatment and walked one young fan onto the pitch as a mascot. That's who Finn is. Yet there’s always been this uncomfortable criticism of Finn which has been amplified in recent weeks. He’s been treated like something else entirely. Not because of anything he did. Because of who his family is. His loyalty doubted, his heritage thrown at him like an accusation. Some of it from people who should know better, including a former Ireland centurion. Heimir described him recently as one of "the people I admire the most in all of this." Then on Thursday he stood up again. Against Austria, he had more touches than any other Ireland player. Starting deeper alongside Coventry, he was exceptional, driving us forward with the kind of passing we've been crying out for in that position. His cross-field ball helped create the penalty for our second goal. He was later pushed further forward into the #10 role, where he he’s most effective at club level. His influence on the game faded with the switch. With Ireland he’s more effective deeper, in attacking midfield Ireland need a more “direct energy” which doesn’t suit him. But he can give us the control and quality on the ball we've lacked from deep. Whatever your view on the wider debate, no player should be made to feel unwelcome in the green jersey because of his family. Finn chose us. Now it's our turn to back him💚