Good stuff. I like how he clarifies how 'injured' he really was when he was playing. Many were in shock to find out Aron was playing injured in a WC. I am sure the docs at AZ and the NT OK'd him playing before he was brought on.
Aron played 20 minutes in Brazil, because truth is, against Ghana, after the break, he barely touched the ball. Nice of Klinsmann to take him, though, injured and all. He had a privileged seat to watch the WC matches. BTW, remember that rumor that Jürgen had promised Mix, Aron & Julian places, no matter what, to get them to switch? At the time, when I pointed to it, people thought it was crazy, no way the three would go. Funny, no? He took one of them against all odds (playing in the 4th tier of the German system); took one even though he was injured and basically useless; and took one to never play him. A betting man would find it all a tiny bit suspicious.
There's a difference, though. Rossi: a) was already playing some top-level minutes with Newcastle; b) was not injured; c) would have started for the USA in Germany. Here it's different. We took three places for a grand total of a bit over half an hour of play.
Nope, had only played friendlies and youth tournaments, including Olympic Games qualifiers. Since he had Norwegian citizenship all along, so far he didn't play with the A-team in a competitive match, he could switch back to Norway. He only got cap tied for sure in the 2013 Gold Cup. See here: http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2014/03/17/12/33/fit-to-be-cap-tied
Thanks. You think there was a promise? Mix said first come first served. I think he really wanted usa as well - I don't think JK had to twist his arm or promise him a wc spot.
I'm with this - Mix was already in the fold. The other two . . . where there's smoke there's fire. However, in Bacon's defense, his season merited selection on the team. I don't recall learning about his injury until after the WC.
Yup, it was not a secret, but it didn't have official confirmation. Mix could still choose Norway. That's the point. He had leverage.
Yep, mentioned that before. That was the point when the promises were made, too: summer of 2013. And, somehow, the rumor started there. Probably one of the three opened his big mouth.
PBP thread by @Suyuntuy http://forums.bigsoccer.com/threads/eredivisie-12th-fixture-breda-vs-az-johannsson.2013206/