David Villa Spain National Team Call up

Very cool! Has MLS ever had an active player play on a top European national team for a competitive game (non-friendly)? Did Giovinco play for Italy since he has been in MLS? Did Beckham play any for England after joining MLS. Seems like that was right about the time that he started getting left off the squad. Now that I think about it, it seems like he did play a couple games for England after moving to MLS. Pretty sure Henry was retired from international play before his move to MLS.
I am guessing this is not the first time. Just curious.
I know there have been lots of MLS players that were former national team players for top European teams.

 

You can argue this way or that about who the best ever DP is, but can any one argue against Villa as the model of how you want a DP to represent himself? Passion, commitment, energy - he is awesome to watch. Scratch that - he's not the model for how DPs should play. He is the model for every single player in the league.

While I am glad for MLS that he got called up (and it is a big deal) I am psyched for him. He earned.

 

Roberto Donadoni played for Italy at Euro '96.

 

While we are heaping on praise, 60 goals in three seasons is amazing.

 

Villa has been in scintillating form. And he's probably more physically fit than at any time in his career. That's just the nature of MLS. He deserves this call-up based on merit. I hope he is able to contribute on the field.

 

Beckham played for England in the run-up to the 2010 WC (when he was playing both with LAG and Milan,and before he hurt his achilles). That said, England is not a 'top European national team'.

 

Pirlo played against Malta in WCQ in September 2015.

 

I figured someone would make that comment. I agree. I may have misused the phrase "top European national team"

 

Giovinco was called up back in 2015 after he came to MLS. I don't think he has been called since.

Belgium is ranked 9th in the world right now and Ciman gets called frequently to them including this latest roster.

 

FIFA rankings - UEFA
Then neither are France, Spain and Italy
1 Germany
2 Switzerland
3 Poland
4 Portugal
5 Belgium
6 France
7 Spain
8 Italy
9 England

 

This is a well-deserved reward for David Villa. And, because this call-up confirms that he is still at the top of his game, it confers some prestige on NYCFC and on MLS.

Buuuut...

I wish it hadn't happened. Villa, at age 35, has only so much left; and I don't want him squandering it with the national team.

If he were 25 or even 30 years of age, then I wouldn't have this reaction. However, at his age, the idea that he will be streching himself too thin has to be considered.

 

I never thought I would say that I'm bursting with pride for David Villa 3 years ago when I bought my season tickets. At first, he was adjusting to play and would often get extremely frustrated with teammates and yell and throw his hands in the air. From there he decided to make everyone else around him better, be the example they can all strive to emulate, have the will to succeed and win, learn a new language, and completely immerse himself in a foreign land and new culture. The goals have been incredible and the work rate is phenomenal for a forward - the amount of times he's tracked back 30 yards to win back a ball in his own half is inspiring. El Guapo forever.

 

Well, Bastian Schweinsteiger is on form to help the Chicago Fire win the World Cup!


https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...asked-if-chicago-fire-can-win-world-cup-video

 

England was ranked 7th in the October, 2009 rankings, when Beckham last played for the National Team (his last game was October 14, 2009).
EXACTLY where Spain is now.

 

I definitely have seen a change this season, where he's been more willing to lay the ball off for colleagues rather than try and score from impossible angles, which makes his production even more incredible.

Assists (Appearances)
2015 - 8 (33)
2016 - 4 (30)
2017 - 8 (24)

 

Everyone remembers what Conte said about Pirlo and Seba moving to MLS right with respect to NT selection right?

Villa getting called up should help change this ridiculous mentality

Love this guy, hate playing against him tho

 

It's a meme based on their repeatedly disappointing play in significant tournaments.

Last six Euros: R16, Quarters, DNQ, Quarters, 3rd in Group, Semis (host).
Last six WC: Last in Group, R16, Quarters, Quarters, R16, DNQ.

The most impressive results are either the Euro semis as the host in 1996, or a couple quarterfinal appearances in the World Cup. By comparison, Germany, Spain, Italy, and France won the World Cup; the Netherlands appeared in a WC Final; and Portugal, Turkey, Croatia, Sweden, and Bulgaria made the Semis. Portugal, Spain (2x), Greece, France, and Germany won the Euros; Italy (2x) and the Czechs made the Finals; and Wales, Russia, Turkey, and the Netherlands appeared in the Semis without hosting.

 

I'd still say England is a major European team, just chokers/bottlers.

 

Not sure about the guapo thing, but his friends call him guaje..

 

That means different things in Spain and Latin America - kid/fool.

 

No question that he is a top 5 DP signing in league history, in large part because of everything you mentioned here. Consummate professional in every aspect of the game.

 

I know that Fabio Capello "banished" Beckham and then eventually called him in. Not sure if it was for Euro or WC qualifiers. I know that both Seba and Pirlo have been called into the Italy squad for games. Almost certain that Pirlo played in competitive matches for Italy in his first year in the league.

 

Ha - was a typo actually thanks for catching!