Suarez to Uruguay (kinda)

[BuffloSoldier]

http://www.mlsnet.com/special/as02/as0802notes.pdf

On deciding to choose between the US and Uruguay, if the situation arises:
I don't have an answer for that. My heart is with the US. I have grown up playing football here, so I owe it to the US. I have a training camp in Uruguay at the end of the year. They invited me for two weeks to train with the national team, and I have agreed to go. It would be an honor to play for the US, though. I developed my soccer here, but I hold dual citizenship and my parents are from Uruguay.

One could say Bruce is on the clock, but I don't believe Uruguay has any opportunties to actually cap Suarez until the Copa America in summer '04.

Edited to say, moved from the Burn board to N&A, where it makes more sense.

[Ghost]

Is this a bargaining chip? Sort of like Michael Ricketts talking about playing for the US.

[DigitalTron]

I suspect that Bruce will call him in. It's open tryouts for young, tall, fast, strong defenders, and he fits the bill. How he does may determine whether he's capped for the US or not. I think he has a chance to play for the USMNT, but it's no guarantee. Certainly making that squad would be very beneficial given our international exposure following our last World Cup. But, Uruguay has quite a history and reputation worldwide as well, so it's no given that he'd choose the US, but it sure sounds like he would if given the choice.

-Tron

[Jose L. Couso]

Suarez can play.

I hope Bruce Arena calls him up, for an official game, and ends all the speculation.

[Texan]

I want players desperate to play for the US on the USMNT, not players who are merely desperate to play international soccer. If he choose Uruguay, so be it.

[braun]

Originally posted by Texan
I want players desperate to play for the US on the USMNT, not players who are merely desperate to play international soccer. If he choose Uruguay, so be it.
Maybe in 10 years this attitude may make sense, but the US is very much an infant in international
soccer and immigrants will be choosing between their mother country and the US for some time!

[soccergamer]

Originally posted by Texan
I want players desperate to play for the US on the USMNT, not players who are merely desperate to play international soccer. If he choose Uruguay, so be it.

What do you expect, do you think ryan is just going to sit there and rot while bruno continually selects a clearly washed up agoof and karate chopping heydude for the nats.

He isn't getting any younger, if bruno is too slow to see his talent then tough crap.

[Davids26]

Guys I am sure Suarez will get a call up. Remember what Bruce did in 98? Called up a lot of guys. A ton of guys.

Yesterday was the last time Agoos will ever wear the national team stripe, he knows he needs new young blood. Bruce isn't as stupid as most think.

He did coach us to the final eight of the World Cup after all.

[The Wanderer]

As long as Arena doesn't have his head up his arse then Suarez will be playing for us. I wouldn't worry about it too much.

[L127]

Sounds like an allexpense paid trip to Uru to play some ball and see some relatives. Maybe play the Uruguayan FA a little bit. I think he has a real good shot at the Nats and he knows it.

[The Wanderer]

The fact remains that he has a much better chance of actually making it to the World Cup with us Yanks than he does with Uruguay. Uruguay slipped in this time after a playoff with Australia. Next time they might not be so lucky.

Personally I've met Suarez(at the Dallas watching party of USA vs. Portugal), and I pointed up to the screen and said,"Is that going to be you out there in 2006?" He said, "God willing." In my mind it's just a formality that he wants and will play for us. I'd be using the Uruguayan federation also for an all expense paid to Uruguay in the off-season.:) The friendlies also won't cap tie him to us if he ends up playing for either team. Only FIFA sanctioned events cap tie him to a particular team.

[nowhere]

Doesn't it feel good though, that another country, a soccer country, wants a player that we could've capped, but haven't yet.

[Go2NY]

don't get excited yet

agoos will probably announce his retirement from international soccer - the entire world knows he made the 'donkey' team, actually three times - the other donkeys made it only once.

suarez has to step up and play a whole lever higher and quicker befoire he's serious nat meat.

not everyone can 'step-up' like sanneh, o'brien, donovan and beasley.

in 2006 those guys will have to be the standard others have to come up to, and better - teams like germany and italy will be lurking and angry

in 2006 they all know we're coming and they'll be wide awake - and we better be too...

[The Wanderer]

Originally posted by Go2NY
in 2006 they all know we're coming and they'll be wide awake - and we'd better be ready too...

Fixed your post.

Suarez can run step for step with Jeff Cunningham and has good touch and ball skill. Mental decision making is his only weakness and he has improved greatly in that area the past season and a half. I'd put money on him making the 2006 WC squad unless he's hurt or gets hurt.

[TeamUSA]

I do share the opinion of Texan. I to want players who want to play for the USA, not guys that want to play international football.......looking in your direction David Regis.

But also glad to read from The Wanderer that he shows possibly a bit more interest in playing than his statements about going to Uruguay.

From the interview with Bruce Arena before the All Star match he did mention Suarez as a potential call up. As to why some are getting excited about Bruce not calling him in, look at what just took place. A World Cup, a training camp after those players selected for the squad with no new callups, and after the World Cup there hasn't been any FIFA sanctioned friendlies for him to be called up. Relax, the Boss isn't stupid and Suarez will get a look. I do hope that he really wants to play for the United States of America.

[Preston North End]

Arena was also quoted prior to the World Cup about bringing Suarez into a camp. Arena has also been quoted that the WC is for "younger" players.

The race is on...when will Suarez get his first official cap (He could be capped by both URU/USA prior to these dates below)?

1. With the US at the 2003 Confed Cup?
2. With the US at the 2003 Gold Cup?

or

3. With Uruguay at the 2004 Copa America (although, I read somewhere the CONMEBOL 2006 WCQ might start in early 2004).

Is he talented enough to get at least a few appearances for the US? I would think so. He's an MLS All-Star this year and he played well enough last season to catch Arena's eye.

Oh, yeah, a half-way decent Uruguay side want to look at him too.

[Topo]

Arena has shared the wealth and given so many players a look, that I suspect he will have Suarez in for a look (and probably a cap in an official game to cap-tie him).

The guy is good. In his second year he made the all-star team on merits, not name recognition among fans, because he's having a great season.

Give the guy a cap and see if he fits the system and the international game. He's a big guy (maybe 6'2"?).

I met him on Thursday at an event surrounding the all-star game. He was eager to try to show Bruce some stuff. Unfortunately, he was subbed off early, even before the rain/hail, so I guess he was hurting.

Still, I'd love to see the guy get a look. And what he said is that his heart is with the US. Well, it looks like we're his first choice.

[Pegasus]

I'm pulling for Suarez. He should do fine on the bigger stage because he has size,strength surprising speed for a big player,decent foot skill and a lot of heart. Sometimes too much heart but he would be an instant enforcer if someone starts chopping on Beasley or Donovan.

[Bruce S]

Put yourself in Suarez' position. The USA will qualify every World Cup.Uruguay will struggle to get in every time. The USA made the last 8, will try to go farther,Uruguay has no realistic chance to go that far. If Suarez has any brains he won't commit to Uruguay unless it is clear that he will never be called for the USA. To top it off, he is in the USA now. I would guess he is not dying to move back to Uruguay.

[Davids26]

Originally posted by Bruce S
Put yourself in Suarez' position. The USA will qualify every World Cup.Uruguay will struggle to get in every time. The USA made the last 8, will try to go farther,Uruguay has no realistic chance to go that far. If Suarez has any brains he won't commit to Uruguay unless it is clear that he will never be called for the USA. To top it off, he is in the USA now. I would guess he is not dying to move back to Uruguay.

Bruce has it right, Suarez will play for the US if he gets the chance. I think Suarez's situation is a lot different than Regis', for those who compared the two. Suarez has roots to Uruguay, the only thing Regis had was an American wife.