Euro 2016: Welsh FA claim England are spying on their next breed of talent (despite nine of their own players being born over the border)

MUCH has been made of how nine members of the Wales squad were born in England - but now the Welsh FA has claimed it is having to fend off interest from across the border for the next breed of talent.

Wales are set to overtake England in the latest Fifa world rankings as a result of their sterling displays in Euro 2016, but it's just reward for years of scouting for eligible players.

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The three goalscorers against Belgium, Ashley Williams, Hal Robson-Kanu and Sam Vokes, were all born in England, and allowed to don the red jersey thanks to their grandparents.

But Dai Griffiths, president of the Football Association of Wales, told that there have been reports of 'constant interest' from England in their youth teams, in particular the Welsh under-17 set-up.

“We have good squad of under-17s and it’s England who are looking at those players all the time to see if they can come along and pinch them,” Griffiths told The Times.

“These things come back to us so we know it’s going on. It’s up to us to keep hold of them and make sure they play for us and not England.

“Yes, we have looked to see if players in England have Welsh parents or grandparents but now it’s the other way around as often as not.”

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The Wales under-17s reached the group stages of the elite level UEFA competition, where they finished third in a group of four behind Sweden in second and table-toppers Portugal.

Players can choose to represent England or Wales determined by where their parents or grandparents were born. However, once they make their senior international debut, their flag is firmly nailed to the mast.

As well as the three goalscorers against Belgium, James Chester, Andy King, Dave Edwards, Jonny Williams, George Williams and Simon Church are all England born.

Chris Coleman’s Dragons meet Portugal in the semi-finals of Euro 2016 in Lyon on Wednesday.