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Confederations Cup: 23 Americans advance, one goes home

Giuseppe Rossi 1 (ISIphotos.com)  

                                              Photo by ISIphotos.com

When Sunday began it had been assumed that the 23 members of the U.S. national team would be the ones heading home from the Confederations Cup disappointed. After the United States rousing 3-0 win vs. Egypt, and Brazil's 3-0 win over Italy, the results meant that only one American player would be heading home to the United States.

That player is Giuseppe Rossi.

Ever since he left New Jersey a decade ago, Rossi has made it a tradition to return to the United States for part of his off-season vacation. That vacation will begin on Monday.

Okay, so perhaps gloating in Italy's failure may seem like a bit much, but considering the anguish Rossi's two goals against the United States put U.S. fans through, you can't really blame American fans for gloating a bit. So when they celebrate the fact that it was Rossi who was stripped on the play that led to Brazil's vital third goal, and revel in Italy's elimination, you can't really blame them, can you?

Comments

  1. But, I still think Italy threw their last two matches. You know, match-fixing. Somebody probably paid them off to lose the matches. Anybody who thinks Italy was “giving their all” walking around against Brazil must also think that Chelsea was “giving their all” (no offense to DC United fans) walking around against DC United in that friendly in 2005. Soccer is a business, people, and I do think money is enough of a motive sometimes to make people do things “they shouldn’t.” And, the USA is a big, untapped market and must look like a big cookie. Why wouldn’t they pay off a team to lose a match if they could rope in potentially all of N America in the long run???

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  2. So much hate…

    Does the US need Rossi so bad that people really get this upset by the fact he chose to play for a different country? I think it says a lot about the state of US soccer.

    BTW, Brazilians find it amusing that Marcos Senna is playing for Spainm and might play Brazil in the final. Also a recent example, Deco was an idol in Portugal, specially under Scolari. This is common business in soccer, people sometimes feel they will get more chances/be more successful/be more respected by playing for a different country. No big deal.

    Why do Americans feel so offended by Rossi? I don’t get it.

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  3. a) best blog title, ever, anywhere!

    2) on Rossi: he chose Italy over the US because he wanted to win. Rossi chose to perhaps become a player for Italy rather perhaps become a legend for the US. Hence, the hatin’. Suck on it, Giusepp…

    3) “if not for the red card” – yeah people, that’s the whole point, that there WAS a red card, and then again, against the two sides where we could least afford it. At this level, all the coach has to do is get the team mentally focused. There have been enough times where Bradley has just not had his teams ready for kickoff. That’s why he has to go.

    It’s not about the scores, it’s about the stupidities.

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  4. He where is CLifton located in NY, next time we head down to Jersey for the DC Vs Redbull game I will make sure I drive around with my US FLAG.

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  5. As for the tiebreaking rule, the same rules are used in pretty much all FIFA tournaments.

    The rules are:

    1) Goals difference

    2) Goals scored

    3) Direct match

    4) Drawing

    Every league can create their own rules, but international tournaments always go by these.

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  6. @Giovanni2006,

    I think “the rub” with these guys lies in the fact that they go through our youth system, learn the game here, utilize our training and resources that could have been used to develop players who want to play for us, then walk away. I agree that the use of the word “traitor” is strong, but you must understand the annoyance and dislike of him.

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  7. Good one Ives…Rossi may have had the first laugh, but he who laughs last, laughs best…Hope I got that quote right lol

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  8. “Being born on a piece of land is such a cheap way to determine citizenship.”

    Really? Is the draconian European method of citizenship via blood ties better? Citizenship by birth on US soil is a bedrock of this country and its diverse hertiage. By your ridiculous logic every person born here of immigrant parents is not really an American. Take that crap back to Europe…

    Not to worry, Chase. I am in Europe, as you should be as well. Your rogue European ancestors exterminated and marginalized natives in what we named “America” and created a monster. To call a Dutch “Italian” or “Vietnamese” because his parents gave birth while visiting there is absurd. For the US this perversion is logical only because the entity is entirely built on extermination and the idea of attracting masses of hustlers and fortune-seekers to soldify the grab.

    Citizenship should be: Children of citizens, foreign spouses of citizens – after some time, adopted children, immigrants approved by the citizens – after some time.

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  9. Watching Rossi celebrate those goals against us is like watching your ex-girlfriend swaping spit with another guy….yeah it’s a kick in the balls at first, you’re a little angry and bitter, maybe if a few things would have changed you might still be together. But you’re not and it’s time to forget about that b*tch and move on.

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  10. Hokie on Beasley, “…and is still capable of playing well…”
    There is nothing in recent performances that indicates that Beasley will regain form, (ask Rangers) nothing. ConFed Cup was not the spot to take another look.

    Ives, “celebrate the fact that it was Rossi who was stripped on the play that led to Brazil’s vital third goal,”

    Yes there is nothing wrong with celebrating this, not based on Rossi’s play but by his comments. Arrivederci Rossi.

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  11. Ok, I stopped reading a ways back… I think there is some confusion about Rossi, especially from the comment Ding Dong made… He was born in the US to Italian parents, he holds dual citizenship… therefore he can play for either country… I was born in Italy and raised in America, I have dual citizenship and chose to serve in the American Army instead of the Italian Army does that make me a traitor to Italy??? Apparently from all the comments I have read it does… we are sounding a bit hypocritical here…

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  12. “Being born on a piece of land is such a cheap way to determine citizenship.”

    Really? Is the draconian European method of citizenship via blood ties better? Citizenship by birth on US soil is a bedrock of this country and its diverse hertiage. By your ridiculous logic every person born here of immigrant parents is not really an American. Take that crap back to Europe…

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  13. USAhmurricans are the most thin-skinned people on earth. By far.

    Posted by: Peter Bering

    You have no idea what you are talking about.

    I think it’s just frustration from the U.S fans because Rossi is so good.

    That said, I think it’s time to shake the kid’s hand and move on.

    Go Jozy!!!

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  14. “Being born on a piece of land is such a cheap way to determine citizenship. Rossi is Italian, and USAhmurricans are the most thin-skinned people on earth. By far.”

    hes always dreamed of being a dolphin..

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  15. Being born on a piece of land is such a cheap way to determine citizenship. Rossi is Italian, and USAhmurricans are the most thin-skinned people on earth. By far.

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  16. Well, I tend to dislike these guys who go through the US youth system, learn the game from us, then part for “greener pastures,” such as Rossi and Subotic. Add in the celebration in our faces last week after his goals, and it becomes even easier to dislike this guy.

    It’s called karma, folks, and it tends to come around when it’s a most difficult pill to swallow…choke on it Giuseppi!

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  17. Isaac,

    He didn’t just make the decision to leave his country as a player, but as a person as well. He’s a flat-out traitor and US fans will never forget that.

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  18. “Hey Stephen, ther’s an Italy fans blog site for you to go cry in, please tell them how Italy got screwed, not us, we have had our share of getting screwed already. (2 inexistent reds and uncalled hand in the box)”

    I’m not Italian or an Italian fan – my international loyalties lie with Sweden (assuming Canada’s doing their usual job of struggling along), thanks to ties on my mom’s side.

    I’m just pointing out how idiotic this tiebreaker looks. If the US had beaten Italy and gone out on this formula, it would *still* be idiotic and logic-defying. Head-to-head should always have first priority and be used whenever possible; it couldn’t be used in the first tiebreaker, but there’s no reason to not go back and use it when you have Egypt out of the picture. It’s not “ignoring” head-to-head, it’s acknowledging that it can’t break a three-way tie in this scenario. It sure as hell can break a two-way tie.

    Ah, well, the US will get thrashed by Spain and all will be back to normal anyway with this quirk of tiebreaking long forgotten.

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  19. Ives,

    You really know how to stir the pot. But as much as I think Rossi’s decision was a completely self centered decision, I’d rather not kick him while he’s down. Despite his effort against the US, he really didn’t have a great tournament, nor did Italy. I did however read on another site that he considers himself American rather than Italian, which makes me more disapointed at his decision, not angry.

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