International Career
Apart from England, the country of his birth, Morrison was also eligible to represent Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and the Republic of Ireland. He chose to play for Ireland, qualifying for that country because his grandmother was from Dublin.
Morrison made his debut for Ireland in a 2–2 draw on 15 August 2001 against Croatia; he entered the game as a 52nd-minute substitute and scored the second Ireland goal. He also travelled to the 2002 World Cup, but did not play.
Morrison's international career began to gain momentum during his time at Birmingham City. He scored his first competitive international goal in a 4–2 European Championship qualifying defeat to Russia in Moscow in September 2002. Morrison later became a key part of the side as the Republic competed for a place at World Cup 2006. He scored three goals in the qualifying campaign, but Brian Kerr's side finished fourth in a tight group that included Switzerland, France and Israel.
Despite scoring in 11 out of 14 games for Palace,he was not called into the Ireland squad to face Brazil in a friendly in February 2008. However, his continued good form with Palace led to him being recognised by Ireland coach Giovanni Trapattoni in his first provisional 40-man squad, though he did not make it to the 28-man squad.
Read more about this topic: Clinton Morrison
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“It is a great many years since at the outset of my career I had to think seriously what life had to offer that was worth having. I came to the conclusion that the chief good for me was freedom to learn, think, and say what I pleased, when I pleased. I have acted on that conviction... and though strongly, and perhaps wisely, warned that I should probably come to grief, I am entirely satisfied with the results of the line of action I have adopted.”
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