Ives Galarcep was talking about this on Twitter and mentioned that the kid was told that him making this year's Mexico team was a long-shot at best. So making it to the World Cup this year should have little to no affect on his decision. Some will argue Gonzalez might feel a rush to join Mexico to help his World Cup 2018 chances. He's a long shot for that team at best, and my understanding is he has been told as much (though that doesn't mean some FMF officials aren't making hollow promises to convince him)— Ives Galarcep (@SoccerByIves) January 8, 2018
Making this years WC shouldn't be his focus. Keeping his career out of the hands of the idiots running all aspects of soccer in the US should be.
Not one bit. I'm not happy about this but I don't blame him. Careers are short and he may never get a chance to play in another WC. The US is a dumpster fire right now and Mexico can offer more. If I were a LigaMX Best XI and behind Dax McCarty on the depth chart I would bolt as well.
Jonathan Gonzalez has spoken out on his choice to play for Mexico.The 18-year-old had previously played for various U.S. Youth National Teams. pic.twitter.com/i6TIVM54RK— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) January 9, 2018
Eh, Mexico's also been a dumpster fire from time to time as well. No guarantees in this business. Like that Jersey kid (Rossi) who went with Italy a while back. Both the US and Italy are out this cycle--and he wasn't selected in 2014.
My point was "no guarantees in this business". Maybe Mexico doesn't make it next time. Like the Dutch and Italy this cycle.
Beside the point. Mexico in general, and the FMF more specifically, actually take soccer seriously and don't play the 'we're little ol' CONCACAF so of course we suck' card constantly. Mexico has ambition to be a top international team, and they act like it. The US doesn't, plain and simple. It's clear as day. Crystal clear. Obvious. Side note: Can we (I mean the royal 'we') all stop saying "Men's National Team" everytime we talk about the US? I mean seriously, does anyone actually think we are talking about the women's team when we talk about Pulisic or Bradley or Dempsey? Shit drives me crazy.
Riiiight. Look the current state of US soccer needs work. But when you look back at World Cup results over the last few cycles, the US has been beating Mexico--until now.
I mean, other that 2002 (which was 16 years ago) not really. Name a WC we did better than Mexico since 2002.
Uh, we won our group in 2010. Mexico didn't. But I'm also thinking about qualifying (as that is part of the World Cup). Won the Hex for 2014. Won the Hex for 2010. Tied for top spot in the Hex for 2006.
Who gives cares how well the US did 4, 8, 12 years ago. The US just came in 5th in the Hex. This is a crisis lead by the arrogant leaders who think they know what is best for soccer in the US but have no clue how to build the sport. There is no reason why the US should not be first or second in Concacaf all the time. It should not even be close. It has all the resources, people, time, etc.... that is needed to be on top of Concacaf. How countries with 1/2 to 1/10 to 1/100 of our population and 1/20th to 1/1000 of our economic power are beating the US consistently? Where the USSF does not know what to do with $100 million losing teams that can't pay their players on time. . . We say US and mean the men when we talk about sucking. While we say US when we talk about being competitive.
Please, please, PLEASE stop using the population argument. Please. It's perhaps the dumbest argument that can be made.