U.S. Soccer (20 Viewers)

[Ragazza]

Yeah, but both his parents are Icelandic, and he moved to Iceland when he was 3, and his English isn't really that good either. He also played on the Icelandic youth teams. I don't think he would have considered the U.S. team if the Icelandic team had a chance of qualifying to anything, and that seems wrong to me. You shouldn't pick your national team based on that, but purely on what country you feel you belong to. But sure, I can't blame Klinsmann for hijacking him.

Generally it doesn't bother me if someone chooses the NT of the country they were born in rather than what they are ethnically, but if he spent most of his life in Iceland AND is ethnically Icelandic I can understand why Icelandic people would be offended that he chose to play for the US.

You should start then, FORZA MURICA!

hahaha I mean like I said I want them to do well, but I generally tend to give more attention to NT's of players I like, just a personal choice. "Not that crazy about" was probably the wrong term because it makes it sound like I don't like my NT, but rather I just don't follow them as closely as some other Americans do.

 

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[AFL_ITALIA]

Generally it doesn't bother me if someone chooses the NT of the country they were born in rather than what they are ethnically, but if he spent most of his life in Iceland AND is ethnically Icelandic I can understand why Icelandic people would be offended that he chose to play for the US.

hahaha I mean like I said I want them to do well, but I generally tend to give more attention to NT's of players I like, just a personal choice. "Not that crazy about" was probably the wrong term because it makes it sound like I don't like my NT, but rather I just don't follow them as closely as some other Americans do.

Oh and I forgot to mention before, Iceland had their chance to cap him, but they didn't . They called him up for WC qualifiers and didn't play him. He also said this:

"To tell the truth, I’ve never really thought about playing for the United States national team. I’ve lived in Iceland almost my whole life. I’ve always had it as a goal to play for the Icelandic national team. But if Jurgen Klinsmann calls me and says he wants me to play for the United States, then it would be pretty hard to say no."

I've been meaning to start watching MLS so I could know more, but I keep forgetting about it. How could you not love these guys though?

 

[Völler]

Oh and I forgot to mention before, Iceland had their chance to cap him, but they didn't . They called him up for WC qualifiers and didn't play him. He also said this:

"To tell the truth, I’ve never really thought about playing for the United States national team. I’ve lived in Iceland almost my whole life. I’ve always had it as a goal to play for the Icelandic national team. But if Jurgen Klinsmann calls me and says he wants me to play for the United States, then it would be pretty hard to say no."

Doesn't the quote just prove my point?

 

[AFL_ITALIA]

Doesn't the quote just prove my point?

I said I agree with you on that's how it should be . But to be fair, Iceland had their chance before us, and just didn't take it.

 

[Völler]

I said I agree with you on that's how it should be . But to be fair, Iceland had their chance before us, and just didn't take it.

"Iceland had their chance". What kind of bullshit argument is that any way?
I don't blame Klinsmann and the US, I blame the player. A country shouldn't cap the player because they are afraid that another country might hijack the player. The player needs to grow a pair and take a stand. Iceland should have capped him when they feel he's ready, not for any other reason.

 

[AFL_ITALIA]

"Iceland had their chance". What kind of bullshit argument is that any way?
I don't blame Klinsmann and the US, I blame the player. A country shouldn't cap the player because they are afraid that another country might hijack the player. The player needs to grow a pair and take a stand. Iceland should have capped him when they feel he's ready, not for any other reason.

They called him up for World Cup qualifiers, had him on the bench, and didn't play him.

I sorta see it as the Pogba - United situation.

 

[Völler]

They called him up for World Cup qualifiers, had him on the bench, and didn't play him.

I sorta see it as the Pogba - United situation.

This is the national team, not a club team. It's completely different. As I said, a country shouldn't be worried about a player changing nationality. It shouldn't be necessary for a country to field a player only to lock him to their country. That is just far out. You should field a player if you think he's the right solution on the pitch.

Anyway, Johansson probably dreamed of Iceland until he realized that he was good enough to play for a better national team despite that he feels Icelandic. That's just , and I'm not even Icelandic.

 

[swag]

Icelandic bloooood!!!!

 

[AFL_ITALIA]

Either way it's done now, and I can't exactly say I'm upset with the results

 

[Ragazza]

I've been meaning to start watching MLS so I could know more, but I keep forgetting about it.

I've tried multiple times to care about MLS, with no luck. I just can't get into it. Gone to several Earthquakes games, I can at least say that the atmosphere is better than it used to be though, so the sport is picking up here somewhat.

 

[AFL_ITALIA]

It's definitely getting better, and 4 more teams will be added by 2020 I think it was. I'm happy to see it on the rise.

 

[Enron]

"Iceland had their chance". What kind of bullshit argument is that any way?
I don't blame Klinsmann and the US, I blame the player. A country shouldn't cap the player because they are afraid that another country might hijack the player. The player needs to grow a pair and take a stand. Iceland should have capped him when they feel he's ready, not for any other reason.

One word bro. Subotic.

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Yeah, but both his parents are Icelandic, and he moved to Iceland when he was 3, and his English isn't really that good either. He also played on the Icelandic youth teams. I don't think he would have considered the U.S. team if the Icelandic team had a chance of qualifying to anything, and that seems wrong to me. You shouldn't pick your national team based on that, but purely on what country you feel you belong to. But sure, I can't blame Klinsmann for hijacking him.

We've lost players to other national teams as well, so it goes both ways.

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Generally it doesn't bother me if someone chooses the NT of the country they were born in rather than what they are ethnically, but if he spent most of his life in Iceland AND is ethnically Icelandic I can understand why Icelandic people would be offended that he chose to play for the US.

How did you feel about Rossi playing for Italy?

 

[Ragazza]

How did you feel about Rossi playing for Italy?

Meh, doesn't bother me that much, even if it was probably just a gloryhunting choice, it's at least more believable that he feels Italian, as opposed to Johansson actually feeling American. Rossi was living in Italy when he started getting called up for youth teams, plus both his parents are Italian. I find it much less likely that Johansson feels American when he probably doesn't even remember living here, plus having Icelandic parents.

 

[Enron]

Meh, doesn't bother me that much, even if it was probably just a gloryhunting choice, it's at least more believable that he feels Italian, as opposed to Johansson actually feeling American. Rossi was living in Italy when he started getting called up for youth teams, plus both his parents are Italian. I find it much less likely that Johansson feels American when he probably doesn't even remember living here, plus having Icelandic parents.

Does it really matter "how a player feels"? I don't think it does.

Rossi is a bad comparison, I guess it's more like Subotic who repped the US at the youth level and then jumped to Serbia for the senior team. Point is, this stuff will happen until FIFA come up with some clear cut rules. But it really doesn't bother me. For every Jermaine Jones or Aron Johansen the US gains, there is a Vedad Ibesevic, Neven Subotic, Brede Hangeland, Andy Najar or Guisseppe Rossi that we don't get.

 

[Völler]

We've lost players to other national teams as well, so it goes both ways.

I never claimed it didn't. I'm just arguing that Johansson chose to play for the US for the wrong reason.

 

[AFL_ITALIA]

 

[swag]

In Mexico they are singing, "We are going to Middle-earth."

 

[Red]

 

[AFL_ITALIA]

Johannsson starting

 

[Enron]

New US kit looks tasty.