Some Italian fans would agree with you. They never forgave him being born in NJ, so there was relief each time he was not selected for a World Cup squad. In a way, Giuseppe ended up not belonging here nor there.
He had already made his choice and had to prove the tifosi Azzurri that he was a vero italiano, not some yankee di merda. That's why the celebration. Fans do influence player selection for NTs. And soccer is tribal as hell, true ooga-booga stuff. Mexican managers have lost their job for relying on duals (or "mercs" as styled over there).
can anyone recall what Italian thoughts were when he wanted to represent them? did he get critics from their side wondering why they should have an American playing?
Yeah, I had never felt any ill will towards the guy, until that moment. And it was especially grating when you compare it to how other players in that situation celebrated ― or rather didn't celebrate ― scoring against the country of their birth/ancestry. Like Juan Pizzi scoring for Spain against Argentina, or Podolski scoring for Germany against Poland.
You are right. Sadly, it is incredibly comprehensible that people will do this. It's silly and petty and ridiculous. But that's the deal. We insist professional athletes give up their happiness for ours and then we call THEM selfish if they don't.
Most seemed to think that 2006 team was one of our best going into the Cup, didn't they? (At least, the 0-2-1-and-out was not expected.) In hindsight, sure, it could have possibly been different had that been handled differently.
Part of the reason why artists and sportspeople get paid so much is because their lives come into the public domain. Frankly, I rather be poor than subjected to fame. Sounds like the sort of burden that would drive me suicidal within a year.
I lived in Italy for over a decade, spanning Rossi's pro debut with Man Utd through the last World Cup that he missed out on, and I never noticed any kind of sentiment like that directed towards him. His being born and raised in the U.S. was viewed as something more of a novelty than a sign of foreignness, and I think that's mainly because both his parents were Italian immigrants here, along with the fact that he speaks accent-free Italian. So his "Italianness" was never brought into question, or not that I ever saw. There's also the fact that Italian citizenship is based on blood; that regards both their citizenship laws and the way ordinary people there tend to view what makes an Italian. So Rossi was always covered in that regard. It's also the reason why Balotelli has frequently been subjected to the "You're not Italian" abuse, despite being born and raised in the country. What you're describing is much more the case with the South Americans who represent Italy, and that's because their connections to the Old Country are far more tenuous. Guys like Camoranesi, Osvaldo, Motta and Schelotto, for example, all qualified to play for the Azzurri thanks to a single great-grandparent who emigrated over 100 years ago. And Camoranesi didn't exactly endear himself to Italy fans when he admitted he didn't sing the national anthem because he didn't know the words.
There was plenty of it online, but then online people tend to be completely different of how they present themselves in real life, so who knows.
Its one thing to feel Italian or Irish or Israeli due to your parents but due to your great-grandparents? Thats weird that nations still make such exceptions. Weird. Balotelli is a douche but I feel bad for him and others in his situation. I think at 18 their lucky if they get Italian citizenship.
According to the Twitter, he's at the RBNY training facility: Monday training!!!! LET THE WEEK BEGIN! ⚽️🥅 #nostop #nevergiveup #gettingcloser pic.twitter.com/gaaIXEeYxZ— GIUSEPPE ROSSI (@GiuseppeRossi22) October 2, 2017
Giuseppe Rossi, previously linked with #MLS transfer, drawing interest from Chievo in Serie A for January deal https://t.co/taE1XiWA3O via @SerieAFFC— Julian Cardillo (@JulianCardillo) November 22, 2017
Prossima fermata......#SerieA!!!!⚽️🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹 #comeback #calcio #Italy #passion #hardwork #NEVERGIVEUP pic.twitter.com/8R7WeV3mBv— GIUSEPPE ROSSI (@GiuseppeRossi22) November 28, 2017 https://www.football-italia.net/113511/giuseppe-rossi-comeback-genoa He is actually signing with Genoa
He has a vacation home in Jersey City. Helps him get away from Genoa. (Pretty sure him mom and a sibling still live in NJ - at least his mom did till recently far as I know. Have some friends from that teaneck of the woods.)
looks like he might not be a Yank Abroad in a few years. http://www.espn.com/soccer/soccer-t...ars-in-europe-before-potential-mls-move-agent considering MLS in 2 years.
With how little he has done in the past two years, it's kind of presumptuous for him to assume that 1) he'll be healthy enough to play in 2 years and 2) anyone in MLS will want him by then.
This guy... First he celebrates scoring against the US like he won the World Cup singlehandedly, then he allows his agent to inform us of his decision to grace MLS with his presence when he is 33. Thanks man. I've never wished ill on anyone, but man, you're pushing it. I certainly don't see him at the level of a DP contract in 2 years. If he wants to come back home and play for a sheckle or two, fine. Just don't expect a retirement contract like his paisano Giovinco got. He's got a few too many miles on his tires.
The Italian-Americans in the area could pay to see him, regardless. He'd have to go to a place like the Red Bulls. There was already interest in him at some point in the past: http://wetheitalians.com/single_pos...ling-to-offer-big-contract-for-giuseppe-rossi