| Seriously, there's max 5 kids in the US who this question applies to.... (can check on topdrawersoccer) or is this just about Pulisic? |
There are scores of American players with dual citizenship in the youth national team pipeline. Obviously no one knows what percentage will make senior teams for either country, but it goes way beyond Pulisic. |
Yes. And many of these Americans have spent their childhood/teens living and playing abroad. There are several of these top teen German/American players I've been reading about playing abroad in Germany currently and I am sure there are just as many of other nationalities as well. Frankly, these kids are the future of our National teams---not the travel kids or even the US DA kids. |
People knocked Klinsmann for his comments that MLS was not good enough, not a good training ground for our National team players. He thought they should all be playing abroad---until the US could play at the same level of speed and ability. I always thought this was spot on. Btw, I read Wayne Rooney has already been chewing out DC United teammates for slacking. |
And people blamed DA for USMNT not qualifying for the WC when majorities of the DA players don't even get to play for MLS... |
Eh, there are a lot of DA kids not lucky enough to have dual citizenship who also have a good shot of being long-term contributors (Josh Sargent, Andrew Carleton, a number of kids on NYCFC's teams, etc.). With respect to the dual citizens, we also have a wealth of Mexican Americans currently in DA clubs in California and Texas. Hopefully most will choose the US (or have that as their only option in the end). |
There is a very big difference in the quality of those Dual Citizesn that grew up primarily abroad/playing vs the Americans that were trained/played here in the US only. |
I'd agree that the training in many of the other countries is much better overall, but would not agree that all kids who benefited from that training are of higher quality than their DA/national team counterparts here. There are already many excellent US-based DA players getting good pro deals in their teens, and I expect the situation will continue to get better. |
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OP here - I 100% guarantee there is atleast a little part of Pulisic looking at Croatia's run and realizing he'll never play in a World Cup Final like he could've in this cycle.
And yes, he would've played for croatia. He's a few levels above ante rebic. If you watch bundesliga week in week out, you know this. |
| Tommy Mihalic from FC United Academy in Chicago, invited to join the Croatian National Team Camp. This American-Croatian kid grew up one hour from USSF headquarters in Chicago. |
My 10 and 12-year old sons keep saying this. And I've tried to pull the National pride thing on them, telling them that if you were raised here that you'd want to play for the US. "But mom, IT'S THE WORLD CUP!" I said 'endorsements'! Even if he loses with the US in an eventual World Cup he would be rolling around in even more $$. They aren't buying it. |
| We live overseas and my son has been approached for the youth national team here (FIFA rank in the 120s or 130s last I checked). We hold both passports so it's probably something we will pursue as I don't hold any illusions about making a significant run in the USA given the competition and the fact we're "off the radar" of most of the coaches. Still it's the kind of thing that might be a college 'hook' at a good school one day. |
"the National pride thing ..." I think the word you are looking for there is patriotism. It means putting love of country above personal self interest. For many of us, that's more than just a "thing." Don't get me wrong, I love this country enough to be highly and passionately critical of it on a regular basis (ex: racism, soccer system, choice of president), but no, my kid would never play for another country. World Cup or no World Cup. Endorsements or no endorsements. Just no. |
Being world class gets you more endorsement deals in soccer .... how many super star US players merch who play abroad (where the best players play) do you see around? |
There is only one super star US player right now, and I see his merchandise all the time. My son is wearing his jersey this morning as a matter of fact. Any player who is good enough and has the opportunity to play in Europe should take it. That's a no brainer. It also has absolutley nothing to do with this thread. This thread isn't about playing in another country. It's about playing for another country. Totally different. |