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CLICK HERE to Register for a free account and login for a smoother ad-free experience. It's easy, and only takes a few moments.Could not be more incorrect. The issue is with pay-to-play youth development systems that lead to vast swathes of the best young soccer players in the US being denied the opportunity to play with good coaches, thereby stunting their growth. Hint: the USMNT is mostly upper middle class white kids; do you think that's what the average soccer player in the US looks like?
Jonathan Gonzalez is the exemplar. Second-generation, California born, represented the US at every level but ultimately decided to play for Mexico and has an international cap already at age 19. There's a lost player who will probably be in Mexico's starting 11 by the time the World Cup comes home.
I haven't had many soccer discussions in my lifetime and my opinions are based on those limited talks. I've always wondered why we don't have a stronger men's team than we do, especially since the game has been played here now for many years.
I'm not sure that I understand the problem you described. Is the USMNT where kids need to go to really learn soccer and the kids who get to go are the wealthier kids? And how does a kid who was born in CA play for Mexico?
Thank you.
Is the Olympics the same way?
Largely not, that seems to be more about passport. Maybe because there are more chances to represent your country so people aren't looking for the easy route.
Funny. Just seen now Tunisia has 9 foreign born players, all from France.
And we do.
Tunisia defended very well but never ever threatened. England toiled at times but deserved the win. Would love to see Loftus-Cheek and Rashford start against Panama.