That is an interesting perspective because if I were to describe the way they typically play it would be 'pragmatic.' They just grind out results as the tactics dictate, yet without playing Italian-style cattenaccio.
ESPN the Mag's cover this week: "Meet America's Best Hope at the World Cup....Too Bad Giuseppe Rossi Plays for Italy" Where's the cancel button?
His nuts, indeed. It doesn't seem like anyone is giving holland a chance. I think they are stacked with talent that is on-form at the moment. I don't know much about their back 4, but their midfield and attackers are class.
I must be daft....I don't get it. If they're saying that "America's" favorite team is Italy they're nuts. It might be in Boston, NY etc but not in Cali, Texas, or Chicago.
Assuming you are unaware of Rossi's history, he had the choice of playing for the US or Italy. He chose Italy. Slightly off-topic, if Italy wins again, I'll be stabby.
Besides Spain there doesnt really appear to be any national teams that are not showing any cracks. Im kinda hoping for a random tournament i.e unlikely teams progressing further then expected. Imagine if Australia and Ghana leave Ze Germans behind in their group? Upsets like that i enjoy
My own view is that national traits die hard. It's not that long ago that English Culture still had aspects of the Victorian Era. Professionals ranked lower than gentleman. That became a disadvantage in modern warfare for example, where English generals etc were typically pretty crap at the beginning of the war. Later it was on merit. In UK football management you STILL see the whole 'who you are' being more important than what you've done. Where the German mentality is often criticised is lack of innovation and rule breaking. In my own experience I find german business to be quite risk adverse.
You do remember what happened to Spain in their last international tournament, don't you? Spain have the greatest collection of talent and stars, but stylistically they are very beatable.
I don't think we have too many players going to the World Cup - so we shouldn't have too much fatigue going into next season. Sagna Fabregas Bendtner Song Eboue RVP Vela Is Clichy still in the French team, or has he been replaced by Cissokho?
Rossi didn't get called up to Italy's pre-World Cup training roster. Looks like he'll be watching from home this time.
I'd rather just have players who actually want to play for the national team as opposed to ones who feel no connection or think they're too good.
Choosing to play for a European country doesn't mean you think you're too good, or that you don't feel connected to the US. It can just mean you are giving priority to your club and don't want a long commute for NT games interfering with your career.
Really? Has there been a history of that? I always assumed that good players like Rossi or Hargreaves just wanted to play for the best team possible, like getting on the best club possible? But like you said...getting on good teams means getting benched...and in international play you can't ask for a transfer so it sounds like he's hosed.
I'm sure that playing their NT games in Europe was a contributing factor, along with family loyalties. But Rossi knew what he was getting into, he turned the US down before the last World Cup, when he'd never been called up by Italy. And i'm also thinking of Vela, who is going to the World Cup, but his progress at the club level has been hampered by playing his NT games on another continent.
Yeah, that makes sense. It was the end of Gilberto too, IIRC. I guess I just don't give them as much credit for being that thoughtful about it.
Is this really so strong when european national teams fly all over the globe as well? Wenger often complains about France flying to all corners of the Earth for pointless friendlies.
It's the difference between the occasional game and every game. I don't mind flying over to Europe once or twice a year, but i wouldn't want to do it every month.
Not to mention European teams don't really fly 'all over the globe" either. Most of them have their friendlies with each other, and when it's an outside the confederation country they usually come to Europe. I can't personally remember the last time France left Europe for a friendly.
Many players seem to manage just fine with it. It seems the ones who fall into trouble with it are ones who lack the maturity and responsibility to actually show up to their return flight. If, however, that was Rossi's intent - merely to avoid all of the travel - then fine on him. But everything I read on him indicated that he saw himself as Italian rather than American, spoke only Italian in his home and such.