By JOHN BOSCHINI
The United States' youth system received an unexpected boost with the news that Bayen Munich and German U17 standout Fabian Hurzeler will join the USA's U20 squad.
According to Yanks Abroad, U.S. U20 coach Thomas Rongen said that Hurzeler will join the team during its January camp.
Hurzeler, 17, was born in Houston but has lived most of his life in Germany and is the youngest member of the Bayern Munich reserve team. The midfielder has captained Germany's U17 team in official qualifying tournaments, so he will have to file a one-time switch of federations if he is to participate in any U20 World Cup qualifying or tournament matches. This does not apply to the January camp or friendlies.
Here are some more stories to wrap up your Tuesday.
KANDJI SUFFERED TORN ACL IN MLS CUP FINAL
Colorado Rapids forward Macoumba Kandji has been diagnosed with a torn ACL after going off injured following his role in the game-winning goal in the MLS Cup Final on Sunday.
Kandji, 25, will most likely be out four to five months with rehabilitation.
MLS PLAYOFFS THE THIRD HIGHEST ATTENDED IN HISTORY
The final attendance numbers from the 2010 MLS Playoffs show a substantial decrease from last year's record-setting average but that they were still the third-highest attended playoffs in history.
According to Sports Business Daily, the average playoff match drew 19,535 fans as opposed to 23,559 fans in 2009. This was capped with an MLS Cup Final crowd estimated at 21,700 at BMO Field in Toronto on Sunday night.
SFA SETS DEADLINE FOR REF STRIKE SOLUTION
The Scottish Football Association (SFA) has set a Thursday deadline for a resolution to the impending referee strike this weekend in the Scottish Premier League.
The referees have voted to strike this weekend due to questions of their integrity that have been raised by SPL coaches, most notably by Celtic manager Neil Lennon. The SFA has not ruled out the possibility of "parachuting" in referees from other countries, but referees from Iceland have rejected the offer and officials from Ireland and Wales are unlikely to accept.
SUAREZ AND ETO'O BANNED FOR VIOLENT CONDUCT
Two of Europe's top strikers will be out of action following on-field aggression.
Ajax has accepted a seven-match ban of Luis Suarez after the Uraguayan striker was seen biting a PSV Eindhoven player in a match last Saturday. Meanwhile, Inter-Milan forward Samuel Eto'o has been handed a three-match ban after the Cameroonian headbutted Chievo defender Bostjan Cesar. Suarez was fined an undisclosed amount while Eto'o was charged $40,000.
FIFA CONSIDERS SECOND TIER TO A-LEAGUE
Despite waning national interest, FIFA is looking to add a second tier to the A-League, Australia's domestic soccer league.
The Australian Football Federation announced that it has launched a review of the country's resources with the ultimate goal of developing a promotion and relegation system between the two leagues. Several Australian clubs have been hit with financial difficulties recently, most notably Newcastle and North Queensland.
WEST HAM SET TO EDGE TOTTENHAM FOR STADIUM
Several reports out of England suggest that West Ham United will beat out Tottenham Hotspur in the race for use of the 2012 Olympic Stadium.
Sir Keith Mills, deputy chairman of the London games and Tottenham director, admitted that West Ham is in "pole position" for use of the 80,000-seat stadium. West Ham is considered to be the favorite because the Hammers are willing to leave the running track intact, while the Spurs' bid calls for it to be removed.
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What do you think of today's stories? Excited about Hurzeler joining the U20s? Concerned about Kandji's knee injury? Agree with the bans for Eto'o and Suarez?
Share your thoughts below.
does anyone have an account of this kid? if so, please share. my initial thoughts are really ho hum…..being as i don’t know alot about him. that said, he is a junior player so in my opinion there is a long road that needs to be treveled by this kid before he starts playing first team soccer, whether it be at the club or senior national team level.
in other words, i don’t want to hear any hype on him. talk to me about him in three years, and only if he has a couple of years of first team soccer at the club level. until then….yawn.
Good stuff re: Hurzeler, though can’t say that I have heard of him. Seems like the efforts of Rongen and the US Youth system going after more talent is starting to pay dividends.
Any news on why the decision to switch and his thoughts on the USMNT (senior)?
FIFA or FFA? is contemplating a second division
Because that sure is confusing
No way there were 21,700 at BMO for the final, that’s 100 seats short of capacity and there were lots of empty seats. You could even make out the Maple leaf in the stands.
probably based on paid attendance (season ticket holder, no shows, etc.) versus physicial attendance.
we may get Hurzeler but we lose out on Zakuani.
Zakuani via his twitter, “I’ve accepted an invite from the Congo nat’l team for a game in Paris next week.. tough decision but long wait for US citizenship nailed it!” he followed that up with “If citizenship could have been fast-tracked, probably would have gone with US but happy with my decision.. can’t wait to represent Africa!”
Tell me if I have this straight on some of our duals:
Hurzeler is locked into the US whether we cap him or not after the one-time switch.
Agudela, Diskerud, and Bunbury aren’t technically cap-tied either because they haven’t appeared in an official fifa competition with other nations (and haven’t necessarily needed to file any one-time switch papers to this point.) It would seem they need to play in an official senior competition for the US in order to be cap-tied. Correct? (or have one-time switch papers been filed for any of those 3 players???)
Yeah there may have been that many tickets bought, but my guess would be maybe 11k actually watched the game after half time.
Kudos to Ugo Ihemelu, who tried to force Mac Kandji off the ground to speed up the game.
As much as I hate faking injuries to waste time, when the trainers on the field attending to a player, you have to leave him alone. Ihemelu should have been sent off, and he should be suspended.
The playoffs may have sold tickets, but they must by counting season ticket holders who didnt show up, and contest winners who also didnt bother. I agree with angler23- No way there were 21,700 there at the final. I thought the empty seats, the stadium they held it at, and the teams competing all sucked! Worst cup in the last 5 years. Casey get’s MVP? He should have been tossed out in the first half from yellow card worthy fouls. The only good part of that cup was the FC Dallas goal.
I do not really consider Zakuani American he just went to college here for like three years and plays in MLS he has not been in USA that long in my opinion. I do not see why he wants to play for USA. He has not spent the majority of his childhood here. Also, this guy from Germany is crazy why is he going to switch to play for USA if he is a prospect in Germany for club and country ?
You can probably blame both Colorado and Dallas for the poor attendance numbers.
what’s interesting is that Bakkal was laughing after the bite from Suarez and didn’t do anything. Also at the end of match Suarez and Bakkal were seen laughing it off.
rongen promised him a uniform that fits.
Youngest player on Bayern Munich II squad. Last called up by Germany in March so hasn’t been out of the system for very long, so it’ll be interesting to hear his reasoning for the move.
Shawn Parker should be another American on Rongen’s radar, but he’ll definitely be a tougher get after scoring for Germany’s U-18s just last week.
This kid instantly becomes the best player on the United States squad.
lol, really man?
Dude! he’s totally better than Messi, Iniesta and the ghost of Geore Best combined! Plus he kinda looks like Andy Murray.
sorry i meant George Best. i was so excited for the now best player in USA history
Probably best prospect. It is impressive that the captian of the youth squad and youngest reserve player at BM would choose the US over a perennial powerhouse. This seems to be a huge blow to germany, on paper. Lets hope it works out.
Lol lots of haters on these pages now….. Too bad the kid didn’t grow up in Dallas FC’s youth camp, because only then will these people think he is any good…..
It was a cup final, and no doubt Ihemelu thought he was stalling. It was clear to all that Mac was definitely hurt, but it also seemed like he was lingering about 2 yards from the touchline…which was because that’s where he got hurt, but I can understand Ihemelu’s position.
rtfa
This switch is a shock to me. It seems Hurzler has a bright future. Should be interesting to hear his reasoning from him.
Because the Germans have a bottleneck of talent. Hurzeler sees guys like Thomas Muller and Philip Lahm and Ottl–and those are just on Bayern. If you’re a young player in the German system, it’s got to be depressing b/c you just don’t see a lot of opportunities. To put it another way, it’s like being a fine young U17 GK for the US–and looking at Howard and Guzan and then a bunch of collegians and thinking “man, am I ever going to play for the NT before I”m 35?”
Also, it’s changed a bit lately but the rep for Bayern’s youth team used to be “where young stars go to die.” Not b/c Bayern didn’t develop young talent but b/c Bayern Munich did such a great job buying up other teams’ young talent that the Bayern youth players rarely made the senior side. So if you don’t want to leave Bayern, you look for other opportunities to get ahead (and NT play is one).
Too bad to hear about Kandji’s ACL. I have a bit of a soft spot for him–I was just starting to get into him as a player when he got traded. I like Ballouchy, too, but it seemed to me the Red Bulls’ energy level always went up when Kandji came into a game. Still, if he has to get hurt, then at least let him get hurt while winning the big one.
Not the most convincing picture of Fabian above. I am all for us stealing all the Germans away though.
Well I know both Schweinsteiger, Muller, and Lahm all joined BM in the reserve team at the same age as this kid, so I have no idea what you are talking about
When did national team representation become so mercenary? Say what you want about David Beckham, the guy loves his country and that’s why he plays for his national team. A lot of guys just want to play international football and don’t seem to care about the shield on the jersey.
If playing in the World Cup finals is more important than representing your country, I think you have the wrong priorities. I respect Ryan Giggs for playing for Wales, knowing full well his chances of making it to the finals were slim, as much as I disrespect Owen Hargreaves and Giuseppe Rossi for placing glory before patriotism.
Soccer will always have its cynical wing. Oh well.
Kind of like the 50′s
Not quite in the Andre Bikey stratosphere but Ihemelu was completely wrong. He made a similar attempt later on as well.
Oh and same goes for Ottl….
Agreed. Almost as good as Chicharito.
National team representation has ALWAYS been mercenary. Italy won its first World Cup with the ‘oriandi’ (or something, forget the spelling) – essentially a bunch of Argentines – in the 30′s.
Sure, there has always been an element of it but the situation has devolved in recent decades. The latest FIFA rule change (the one that allowed Jermaine Jones to switch) seems to be a form of capitulation.
Nice, hopefully we see more of this, that way we can all be represented. One love.
“Because the Germans have a bottleneck of talent.”
Exactly. Same thing happens in reverse to the US when it’s the women’s game involved. A gringa-latina scored the winning goal in Mexico’s shock upset of the USWNT in Cancun a couple weeks back, noting exactly what you say here: she would likely never get much of a chance on the US team. And an Italian-American is in goal for Italy in the current playoff to garner the last WC spot available.
I don’t know that it’s the case with this guy, mind you — I mean that he’d have little/no chance to get much time with the German national team — but anyway, if it’s an easier path _and_ you have some appropriate background and feel some affinity for another country, as well, why not play for them? Seems like both a practical choice in many respects and then just a personal question that no one else could decide for you.
How is Championship side West Ham going to pack an 80,000 seat stadium?
Why do you post this, when you’re admitting you know nothing? A long road? Well, he is the youngest player on Bayern’s reserve squad. On the other hand, how many USA players could sniff that team? I would bet those kids could give any MLS team a run for the money. We’re all hype about Agudelo lately. Do you think Agudelo could get a slot on Bayern’s reserve team? Captain of Germany’s U17 team?
I don’t have a clue why he’s even considering the USA, unless he’s despairing of being Ozil’s back-up for a decade. However, if he does decide to file and make the switch, this would probably be the biggest coup for Team USA ever.
The difference is that there are more people with options these days. It’s really just that simple.
Comparing the Jermaine Jones situation to Zakuani REALLY!! J.J. is a son of an American Soldier, how more american can you get. Zakuani was born in another country and has no ties to the U.S. He just moved here not to long ago.
JONES…it sounds american it looks american and was born to an american soldier, what more do you want?.
You play where you’re allowed to play while you still have your best legs. US citizenship laws do no get accelerated for anyone and it doesn’t seem like US Soccer is particularly keen on challenging the current process.
Also, while Congo may not have the best shot @ the World Cup finals with Africa’s 5 berths, there’s still the Africa Cup of Nations.
Good luck to Zakuani (and Najar and Diskerud and Mwanga wherever they choose to play). Can we quit whining and just accept that athletes will make their own career decisions without calling them mercenaries or traitors?
That seems to be what’s being said here, but it doesn’t sound right to me. Look at Diskerud, who played at the youth level for two countries. I guess it is tied to the question of official FIFA competitions. Hurzeler wouldn’t file except to play, so the cap-tie would be basically simultaneous, except that the paperwork would have to be filed to allow him to play for the USA…and it is the paperwork that seems to be the key. Not sure how that squares with Diskerud, except that I guess he didn’t play in FIFA competition for Norway.
Ihemulu is a jerk. I put him in the Nigel de Jong category. Actually, I put de Jong in the Ihemulu category, because I put Ihemulu there years before de Jong joined him.
Ihemulu destroyed a promising career for Dominic Mediate, breaking his leg badly with a late and reckless tackle.
I’d like to see Ihemulu get drummed out of soccer, but I’d probably like to see him get a taste of his own medicine first.
Forgive the misspelling. Ihemelu.
$2 tickets? $2 beer?
Dude, have you not seen Green Street Hooligans?
ITA goalie Piccarrelli said that height requirements kept her off the USWNT, so you may have to scratch that example.
link to articles.latimes.com
Well thanks for the info, which is interesting. Didn’t know that.
I think it’s about the same difference, though, isn’t it? I mean maybe it’s because of her height rather than her ability, but nevertheless, in the end she can’t make the US team because the US player pool is large enough to require more in that regard than she can meet. However she can make the Italian team, evidently because the Italian player pool is not like that…
Not comparing the two, but it is an absolute fact that the US was Jones’s second choice. He wants to play in the finals and he sees the US as his chance to do that. So be it.
Not sure who is “whining.” Call me a purist, but I don’t think playing for one’s country should be a careerist pursuit.
You should learn about logical fallacies. Just because someone expresses an opinion you do not like does make him or her a “whiner.”
MLS inflate attendance? Never.
Well, speaking as a short person, it sounds like USWNT is immediately assuming that someone with height can protect the goal better than one without. And they’re kind of right. (Never mind actual ability.) So Piccarrelli is forced into a situation where she either plays or doesn’t play for a national side.
That’s a little bit different than some 18YO GK seeing other Timmys-in-training stretching into the next three World Cup cycles. You never know who’s coming out on top after a few years, so that kid may well want to take his chances waiting for a Nat call-up because GKs can hold up longer than, say, attacking midfielders. Or he can say “to hell with USA” and go w/ whoever offers him a starting position first.
either a whiner or a hater : )
Bottom Line – I do not know Huerzeler’s thinking and it definitely is strange on the surface.
BUT, (and this applies even more to someone like Najar who comes from a smaller country) if one of these young players becomes a real “galactico” for one of the power clubs AND plays for/leads the USMNT to glory, particulalrly if 2022 is played here, then the potential endorsement value and legend status is incomprehensible.
How much would Nike, Gatorade, Mcdonalds, Wheaties, etc. pay for a true American global star? And as a global icon leading US to World Cup glory you would go down as one of the all-timers in a way that a German player would not.
I’m not seeing that. He’s German, Even if he wears the USA kit, he won’t be marketable here in the way Donovan is. Abroad? If he continued his arc in the German system, he could be a true national icon, like Mattheus or even Beckenbauer. Still, he would be a bigger international star if he’s playing for a competitive USA side, rather than struggling to make a loaded German side…which is surely why he’s considering it.
The mere thought of any of that happening kinda makes me giddy!!!
So just due to your purist convictions, someone should sit and never have the chance to play international soccer, thereby passing on a multitude of opportunities in their club career?
Not saying it’s right or wrong, but international soccer as it is today wouldn’t exist with out professionals and their clubs. Nowadays international soccer is a platform of opportunity for the players’ careers. That’s how it is in reality, like it or not
No offense, but “mercenary” is a loaded word and it seems like a really unfair characterization. All these guys want to do is play high level soccer — be it in the best clubs or the World Cup.
The world of soccer, as has been pointed out to you, has been participating in globalization since before the word itself was coined. Many people are now born and raised in 2 or 3 different countries and it’s often a matter of convenience when they choose to “represent” one country in a sporting event. Unless you have some kind of national/ethnic identity rule book that no one else has, it’s not a horrible thing to try and negotiate between different loyalties.
Of course, this is coming from an immigrant with US citizenship, so … your mileage may vary.
You should rtfa! Ives headline says FIFA, whereas the linked article only says the FFA.
As far as marketability, I don’t this the outlook is as bleak as it may look with this kid. How many mainstream sports fans knew about Landon Donovan when he was 17? Huerzeler speaks English fluently, possibly even without an accent. Though he’s not raised here, he was born here as well. So as far as how “American” he is, he’s probably a lot more than you think.
Did any of you guys watch the replay of the injury? Really gnarly
Go to the MLSSoccer website. Then videos. And watch the Matchday 360: MLS Cup Final Video.
Pause at 3:04
Well always good to see a talented kid come around regardless of how it happens. Surprised Rongen is kind of jumping the gun though before everything is finalized. Hopefully we’ll see this kid in Spain/Portugal or Russia 2018
Yeah if LA had made it, TFC fans would have easily been able to scalp their tickets to people wanting to see Davey Becks
Someone on BS made this joke. If Landon Donovan is the best US soccer player ever, then Fabian Huerezeler is even better.
Why? Fabian is on the Bayern Munich Reserves and a Bayern official (I believe Uli Hoeness) said Donovan wasn’t good enough to even play for the reserves.
Just what we need anothe midfielder…
Still an interesting story!
Don’t they have a huge fanbase? Look at Leeds, they still draw huge crowds.
Not trying to be the party pooper, but there might be some explanation as to by Huerzeler wants to play for the US. This potentially really great news, but this is kind of a wait and see.
He has not played yet for Germany’s U18 or U19. His last game for Germany was during the U17 Euro qualification in March 2010. He wasn’t the captain then or a starter. He captained the U16 team.
fischy – that’s hook line and sinker, good post.
Haha you can’t exactly take that at face value. Hoeness was being interviewed about Jurgen and in a fit of rage trying to make his point that JK was not a good fit, said that Donovan wasn’t even good enough to start on the reserves (due to the fact the JK is the one who wanted to sign him). Now for the more obvious retort, did you not see Landon at Everton? You can’t honestly tell me that the Bayern reserves are better than Evertons’ first team. Come on man, all these posts are uneducated. Go read up before you and Barcafan post on here again.
Technically Huerzeler is “tied” to Germany, but it’s more like “loosely tied”.
Because of his official caps (Euro Qualification) with the German Youth teams, he would have to file the paperwork for a one-time switch if he wanted to play for the USA in official competition (U20 qualifying or U20 World Cup)
To come to the USA U20 Camp or to play in any of the USA U20 friendlies, he doesn’t have to file any kind of switch paperwork, and playing in any of those friendlies doesn’t do anything.
He won’t be cap-tied until he files (and after it gets approved) his one-time switch paperwork. However, if you think about, will Germany’s setup want anything to do with him if he’s going to be part of the USA U20 January camp? They’ll definitely lose interest and look elsewhere.
As for Juan Agudelo, Mikkel Diskerud, and Teal Bunbury….
Juan has not played at level for the Colombia national team. He has played for the USA U18, U20, and Senior level national teams. I believe he played in the 2009 U18 World Cup (official youth cap) so he’d have to file paperwork if he wanted to represent Colombia in an official competition. Technically he could play in a friendly for any level of the Colombia national team without filing any paperwork. But I doubt he’d want to do that now. Kid’s riding high with his first cap and first senior level USA goal.
Teal Bunbury, I’m a little more unclear on. He has 3 caps with the Canada youth national team. 1 cap with the U17 Canada team in 2007, and 2 caps with the 2008 U20 national team between 2008-2009. I don’t believe any of those were official youth caps (SOMEONE PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I’M WRONG THOUGH). Since his USA cap was only a friendly, it does not “cap-tie him to the USA”.
My understanding is that before he turns 21 (Feb 27), Teal could play for Canada, no questions asked, no paperwork needed. But come February 27 2011, if all the USA caps Teal has received are the RSA friendly and the Chile Friendly (unofficial caps) in January, I believe that he’d have to file one-time change paperwork if he wanted to play for Canada again. This is similar to Edgar Castillo, I believe his Mexico youth caps were all unofficial and he only played in senior level friendlies.
Teal won’t officially be cap-tied until he plays in an official USA or Canada match (think Gold Cup) or files a one-time switch.
I’m not 100% sure that a senior level friendly requires one-time switch paperwork for an over 21 year old player.
Lastly for Mix…None of his 2 caps with Norway (1 each with their U18 & U19) were official. I believe he played in the 2009 U-20 World Cup for the USA (official cap). If he wants to switch to Norway (before or after his 21st BDay), he has to file his one-time switch paperwork if he wants to play in an official match for Norway.
Did you not see where I said it was a “joke”!?
Do you really think that I think a 17 year old Bayern reserve is better than Landon effing Donovan?
Have you watched MLS in the last…well…since existence?
I don’t think every player views it that way.
Your perspective depends on what you view as the purpose of international soccer. Players can earn money and recognition playing for big clubs.
Kind of pathetic that I would get so much resistance for suggesting that *gasp* players actually care about the country for which they play.
Nationalism is at the core of the World Cup. If it becomes a free-for-all in which countries sign players with extremely tenuous associations, it does not seem that much different than club soccer.
Bunbury was on Canada’s roster during the 2009 CONCACAF U-20 Championship
Oh come on, Brian! Why are you ruining everyone’s fun with these facts and research and whatnot?! LOL!
He’s the best USA player ever! AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
Poor reasoning. Jonathan Spector made his debut for Manchester United at 17. Frank Simek captained the reserve side at Arsenal. Kenny Cooper was also on Manchester United’s reserves. I hope Hurzeler turns into a star but just because he is at Bayern Munich mean it is a gurrantee.
Gotta kiss a lot of frogs to find a prince, much less 18 of them. Therefore every high level prospect we get to vet is great news.
Thank you, Paula. Finally someone with some common sense.
There are actually people out there, like Rossi and myself, who have every right to represent more than one country. The world isn’t as simplistic as some would believe.
I can’t stand people who label and judge others for making decisions that are personal and none of their damn business.
If Rossi decided to choose Italy, then nobody had a right to tell him not to. If Thomas Dooley chose to represent the U.S., then great. But these idiotic debates about mercenaries and traitors etc… are such a waste of time.
Quit getting your panties in a bunch over someone else’s very personal decision.
Didn’t we get “regis” player to become a US citizen in a matter of weeks just because we didn’t have a true left back? (come to think of it…we still don’t). He wasn’t even born in the US, he married a US citizen.
Has the speedy process changed for special cases?
My only question is if the kid can run as fast as Findley?!
no, but he can dribble out of bounds even better!
Can he run Crysis?
lolololol!!
dude you are wrong, listen to alexalex and don’t disregard. It hasn’t devolved, couldn’t have devolved from those first world cups. Hell, when the USA defeated England, our best player was from another country, and moved back there after the game….three of them who didn’t even have US citizenship (the US rules at the times allowed this). much “worse” than today, though I really don’t get your gripe. And the fact that our best player for that game was an import doesn’t hurt American soccer, it actually helped us because we won!!! and is awesome!! and what is more american than having immigrants represent us? We are a nation of immigrants!!! USA USA USA
how do you know how much Hurzeler or anyone else cares about America? He was born here. Zakuani immigrated here. They may care a lot!!!
Anyways, the USMNT is what it is, a soccer team that represents the United States. The players don’t have to be uber mcarthy patriots and brand the flag into their foreheads, they just have to be american. IF Zakuani had obtained citizenship, he would deserve to play for America as a citizen. Hurzeler, a natural born citizen, has the right, and I’m happy to have another great promise to hope for success.
One more fun fact to put in your hat, how many Polish born players have played for Germany in recent world cups, and how many goals have they scored? And do you think the Germans give a crap?
I got one more, inspired by a post long below…
What do you think of America recruiting Einstein to play on our American scientist team in World War II? Not American enough?
: ) Maybe he did or didn’t care enough for you? : ) What is your care test made up of anyway? : )
interesting fun fact about George Best, the best English footballer in the world. He loved England so much, he retired in the USA : ) We win again!! Honestly though the Cali women probably had a lot to do with it. Too bad he didn’t change citizenship while he was still playing
You are right, just like Beckham is totally unmarketable in America…
Your argument has something else wrong with it….
You are missing something obvious here Fishcy, and that is really unlike you, but I will point it out: HE’S ALSO AN AMERICAN!!! Born in Texas my friend, just like Deuce.
Hurzeler – WOW. Is it possible that Rongen has learned from his mistakes?
Kandji – Well, that sucks. I hope everyone who claimed he was faking it feels stupid now.
Stadium – the Hammers can have it, we love the Lane!
Is that a joke?
Is Rongen still trying to make up for losing Neven Subotic?
The kid looks like a total goof LOL, but if he’s captaining the German U-17s and is on Bayern Munich’s books, he must have some talent. Hopefully this will make up for Rongen messing up the Subotic situation.
Don’t forget some of the all-time great Real Madrid players who played for multiple national teams like Alfredo di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas. Di Stefano played for Argentina, Columbia and Spain. Puskas played for Hungary and Spain as well.
Even our own national team is loaded with this. The 1930 squad was loaded with foreign nationals. The famed Joe Gaetjens who scored the goal for us in the 1950 World Cup against England was a born and raised Haitian who ended up playing for their national team after ours. Even the ’94 team had its “foreigners” who in reality only played for ours because they never had a chance at their native country’s national team.
Don’t kid yourself, this stuff has always happened and always will.
That was a D*CK move by Ihemulo. You shouldn’t be treating a fellow professional who was obviously injured like that. The referee is going to add the extra time in the end anyway.
If you want to “blame” anyone, blame Toledo for not expediting the process.
Thanks Brian. Excellent rundown.
Is that an official match then? Kinda like the U20 version of the Gold Cup?
If that’s the case then wouldn’t Teal have to file paperwork for his one-time switch to play for the USA in an official match, like say the upcoming Gold Cup?
would that be a bad thing? seems like hes doing a great job.
Podolski, Klose, Trochkowski. And I believe the answer is 19? And no probably not
Given the significant increase in dual nationals being invited into the US camp, you have to believe the US was wondering what the last world cup team would have done with, Subotic, Jones and Rossi on the pitch.
Spurs never really wanted that stadium, it was/is a ploy to ensure that Haringey council moves faster on all of Tottenham’s demands, moves Boris’s hand a bit quicker and maybe even forces ‘must-sells’ to those around the planned development that have not sold yet–hell, maybe the council even picks up the tab as it’s in their interest to keep Spurs in their area.
No problem. That’s my best interpretation of it. I may be wrong about the fact that a senior level friendly for a player 21 and older requires a submission of the one-time switch paperwork.
Thanks to Illmatic’s info, it looks like I may be wrong about Teal. My guess is that the CONCACAF U-20 Championship would be an official youth cap. So like Huerzeler (as Yanks Abroad describes), Teal didn’t have to file any paperwork to play in a friendly (RSA friendly) and won’t have to file any papework to take part in the January Camp Cupcake (or the Chile friendly), but he’d have to file his one-time switch paperwork if he wanted to play for the US in the Gold Cup.
Again, someone please correct me if I’m wrong.
Some pretty absurd responses here but I’ll try to offer some arguments.
The “recruitment” of Einstein has little to do with any of this. Perhaps he wanted to help the more righteous side win, I don’t know. Soccer is not war.
I cannot, and have not, attempted to rate anyone on the care-o-meter. I have always viewed international competitions as events during which players are able to express some form of gratitude for a country they care about. I have never once said that the country had to be the place of one’s birth but rather that it should be a place that elicits some sort of emotional connection.
The German players mentioned above have a legitimate connection with Germany in that it was for many of them the place that made them into the people and players that they are. In other words, it was not a frivolous choice. When a guys treats national team selection the same way he would treat picking out a flavor of ice cream, I think he has missed the point.
Some players affect significant change through their patriotism and representation, Didier Drogba being one example. Spanish players are intensely loyal to their country and respective regions.
For the past 4 year while stationed in Germany, I had been saying to USSF that we have some solid youth playing in Germany, Hurzeler and Parker being two examples. We all know of Danny Williams story, who is a little older, and we all lived through the agaony of the Subotic story.
I saw Hurzeler and Parker play while I was over there-solid footballers and comfortable on the ball, good distributors, and in tight spaces, unlike some of our home grown youth.
BL: There are more German/American youth playing in Germany than just these bubbas. It’s a hornest nest waiting to be tapped.
+1
Except the guy was born in Houston, TX, USA. What’s mercenary about that?
I seriously doubt that. He will have o fight for playing time with the US -20′s like everyone else.
Um….I believe the phrase in my post was “it’s changed a bit lately” (which refers to Lahm and Muller). In fact, I cite those guys in my original post as part of the reason why Hurzeler would despair of seeing playing time.
The other point you’re ignoring is that there IS a bottleneck of talent. If you’re a creative midfielder or central midfielder for Germany, you look at the talent and the age and you have to wonder if you’re going to see an opportunity to get on the field. Any wonder why Jermaine Jones gave up on Germany and came to the USA?
And I’ve heard he might even be half as good as Freddy Adu!
Zakuani was never going to represent the USA. I believe he is currently only eligible to play for Congo and England. However, I don’t think he ever said one word about possibly playing for the United States.
Maybe they are lovers?
German here. The name “Hürzeler” sounds Swiss, so good luck with that son of an abyss shitter.
Guys, this happens in EVERY LEAGUE! MLS is not the only culprit.
I see Australia is also sucking up to FIFA’s unrealistic demands in attempt to host the World Cup
i think everybody is missing BCC’s point. He is not insinuating that these players who switch nations don’t care about the countries they represent. However, with the losing of the rules it opens the door for the opportunity that players can switch just to boost their careers.
why is it that people on this blog always assume that because a 16 year old kid is playing with a big club on their reserve team (ala schweinsteiger, lahm, and muller) they are destined for greatness?
i would be willing to bet that for ever shweinsteiger, lahm, and muller, there are 3 other prospects, if not 6, that were just as highly touted but did not develop in to world class players. no matter the country, the soccer universe is the same…..it is a numbers game. and there are so many other variables that go into a prospect developing into a bona fire talent.
that said, we have plenty of american players as examples. need i mention freddy adu? and before anyone says that he was not on a reserve team for a club as big as bayern munich, need i mention jovan korovski? he was at man u reserves, as a teenage prospect, and was rated higher than both beckham and giggs while there.
i was the first to post after seeing this and it amazes me how many people already think that this guy, errr, let me correct that, KID, will make a HUGE impact for the senior US national team just because he is a 16 year old captain of the german youth side and the youngest player on the bayern munich reserves.
PERSPECTIVE PEOPLE….let’s keep things in perspective. him choosing the USA over germany is a win for us but in no way guarantees him success in soccer, either for club or country, and in no way guarantees future success for the senior US national team.
that’s it….i am done…..as you were.
The ‘speedy’ process changed as a result of 9/11, can’t see US customs making any exceptions anymore….even me born and raised in the US was forced by a customs agent to sign my customs declaration card card several times to prove who I was upon returning from a European trip…..
George Best played for Norhern Ireland.
actually, you rated Beckham off the charts on the care-o-meter
Beckham isn’t a dual citizen.
The truth is you and I will never know what the real emotions and reasons are concerning a player’s choice of country to play for. It’s very personal and I’m sick and tired of everyone assuming they understand the reasons behind this very personal choice.
Hargreaves’ father was an enormous Bolton fan and when he grew up Canada had no soccer tradition worth talking about. Rossi was never going to represent the US and Italy was always the team in his household due to his dad.
The Leeds full back Tony Dorigo,who was born in Australia but had 15 English caps once said something to the effect of,”Representing Australia on the soccer field was like representing England in surfing”.
So please stop acting as if you understand the reasoning behind everyone’s choice. Giggs missed out on World Cups it’s true but had tons of medals and international play at Man U. to console him. Plus when he first made his choice Wales was a much more legitimate soccer power than the minnow it has since become. Not having those international duties probably has allowed him to last so long at such a high level.
Why do you think Freidel is about to get a new contract? He doesn’t have the distraction of the USMNT and its travel. We certainly needed him in South Africa but I didn’t notice anyone criticising him for lack of patriotism.
BCC,
By the way, the players in question, Hurzeler, Beckham, Giggs, Rossi, they are all professionals. That means they get paid to play the game.
They, and all the players at the World Cups,are mercenaries by definition. And representing their countries has always raised their personal profile, thereby making them a more valuable commodity for them and their clubs. Everyone profits. Follow the money.
Eminently sensible but you also have to place this event in context. The USMNT fans on this site have been despairing for the future of the USMNT what with the awful World Cup, the re-hiring of BB, the continued threat of Findley, Sacha,Bornstein, Jozy,Rico Clark, and Michael Bradley possibly representing the US again at some point.
Things have been so bleak for the US fan and this is just another ray of hope.
What could be more American than “show me the money”?
“I have always viewed international competitions as events during which players are able to express some form of gratitude for a country they care about. I have never once said that the country had to be the place of one’s birth but rather that it should be a place that elicits some sort of emotional connection.”
Like FIFA the USSF, which is the body that manages the USMNT, is a private, non- profit foundation, a non governmental agency that represents US soccer to FIFA.
If you go back to the original FIFA rules:
“2.Clubs and players could only play for one National Association at a time”
This has of course since been amended after you had people, like Puskas, Kubala and Di Stefano representing multiple countries.
What this all means in English is that saying that playing for the USMNT is representing your country isn’t exactly true. It’s not like these guys have enlisted in the Marines or are traveling on diplomatic passports. It’s an artificial distinction. It’s like saying US Steel represents the US because ity says US on thier logo.
So it’s not as if Rossi for example, enlisted in the Italian army. I like to have a higher standard for the words “patriotism and representation”. This is professional football we’re talking about not patriotism.
And professional means getting paid.
GW: You have a point wrt “conext.” We Yanks fell for the hopey-changey stuff in 2008, and look where it got us.
You lost all credibility by including Michael Bradley in there
Really? Clearly you haven’t been reading all the posts on SBI about how Jones, Daniel Williams, Mix Diskerud, Holden and Edu mean Bradley is now surplus to requirements and wasn’t that good anyway. After all he plays for a bottom dweller in the Bundesliga. How good can he be? If his name was Michael Brian he’d be better off.
Really? Clearly you haven’t been reading all the posts on SBI about how Jones, Daniel Williams, Mix Diskerud, Holden and Edu mean Bradley is now surplus to requirements and wasn’t that good anyway. After all he plays for a bottom dweller in the Bundesliga. How good canhebe? If his name was Michael Brian he’d be better off.
My bad. Didn’t read the part about “USMNT fans on this site”. I took it as your opinion
yeah, and einstein and huerlezer are both german-americans who wanted to help america…and also, i highly doubt that it is a “frivolous choice” for any player to choose which national side to play on, huerlezer, jones, zakuani, rossi, subotic. the truth is BCC, you deny your care-o-meter but you decided on your own who cares and who doesn’t.
also, they too have “a legitimate connection” with America!!
and, who said anything about ice cream? And how would you know what went through their minds? and all Spanish players are “intensely loyal?”
my bad
Not assuming. I saw with my own two eyes. He is a quality and gifted player.
I just hope his move is permanent