New Jersey Soccer Star Giuseppe Rossi is Living Out His Italian Dream
 |
|
Villa/Getty
Rossi turns down opportunity to join
the U.S. national team to play for the Azzurri |
They are calling Giuseppe Rossi a "Benedict Arnold" for choosing to play for Italy rather than the US.
Yet, the U.S. National Team used the likes of midfielder Earnie Stewart (Netherlands) and defender Thomas Dooley(Germany), among others, who were vital members of several World Cup sides. They were born in other countries to at least one parent who was an American. The much-hyped Freddy Adu, who at 14 became the youngest player to play in MLS in 2004, was born in Ghana and emigrated to the U.S. Adu picked the U.S. (he is on the Confederations Cup roster),
New Jersey Soccer Star Giuseppe Rossi
is Living Out His Italian Dream - So what's the problem?
The New York Daily News; By Michael
Lewis: Wednesday, June 17th 2009,
Clifton's Giuseppe Rossi came off
the bench to spark Italy past the U.S. in a Confederations Cup match from
South Africa.
PRETORIA, South Africa - Some American fans think New Jersey's Giuseppe Rossi is soccer's answer to Benedict Arnold.
Fans are upset that Rossi decided to go with his heritage instead of the country of his birth to play with the green, white and red of Italy rather than the red, white and blue of the USA
While it hurts that Rossi came off the bench to strike twice to help turn a U.S. lead into a 3-1 loss in the FIFA Confederations Cup on Monday - and that he probably will continue to fill nets for Italy in the future - the Clifton product did nothing wrong. And he is certainly not a traitor.
Rossi, simply put, is the one who got away. But what the 22-year-old did happens all the time throughout the world because FIFA rules allow players to perform for the country of their birth or heritage.
Just look at the Irish National Team, which traditionally has used players with Irish blood and background who live in the British Isles. Last year the Barbados Football Federation placed a notice on the front page of its Web site asking for players of Barbadian heritage worldwide to play for its National Team.
Once a player makes that decision and appears in an international match, he cannot change his mind. He's locked into that country forever.
Rossi was courted by former U.S. national coach Bruce Arena a few years ago, but he said no thanks. He opted to play in Italy's Serie A, a much more challenging league than the MLS, where Rossi could stretch his game, with his sights set on the Azzurri.
American soccer fans shouldn't protest too much because this rule works both ways. The U.S. has used it to its advantage throughout the past two decades.
How do you think the U.S. National Team got an opportunity to use the likes of midfielder Earnie Stewart (Netherlands) and defender Thomas Dooley (Germany), among others, who were vital members of several World Cup sides? They were born in other countries to at least one parent who was an American.
The much-hyped Freddy Adu, who at 14 became the youngest player to play in MLS in 2004, was born in Ghana and emigrated to the U.S. Adu picked the U.S. (he is on the Confederations Cup roster), although he has yet to fulfill his promise at the international level.
There is even a player on the U.S. roster for this tournament who made this decision less than a year ago.
Midfielder Jose Francisco Torres, a 21-year-old who is a starter for Mexican club Pachuca, has a Mexican father and an American mother.
Last September he chose to play for the U.S. and made his international debut less than a month later.
Whether he becomes a regular or pans out, it remains to be seen.
But let's say Torres scores for the U.S. or makes a big play in a vital win over Mexico. We'll certainly hear similar protests and complaints from south of the Rio Grande.
I wonder if American soccer fans will complain about that.
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/
2009/06/17/2009-06-17_theres_nothing_wrong.html
The ANNOTICO Reports Can be
Viewed (With Archives) on:
[Formerly
Italy at St Louis]
