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Brooks to choose between USA and Germany “in the coming weeks”

JABrooks (Getty)

By IVES GALARCEP

German-born defender John Anthony Brooks has been the subject of plenty of speculation about his national team future for some time now, and there has been a hope for U.S. Men’s National Team fans that he will eventually choose the U.S. over Germany when the time comes.

The time to make that decision is fast approaching and Brooks has made it clear he is on the verge of choosing a national team in the coming weeks. In a recent interview with Berliner Kurier, Brooks stated that he will make his decision soon.

“I can still play for both organizations,” Brooks said. “I have not decided for whom. Now I know not whether I in the summer at the U-20 World Championships in Turkey playing for the United States or at the U21 European Championship in Israel for the DFB. 

“I will consider in the coming weeks in peace.”

The son of an American soldier, Brooks has enjoyed a breakout season with German Bundesliga 2 side Hertha Berlin, and with the team on the verge of gaining promotion back to the Bundesliga, Brooks could is poised for a big 2013.

Whether his 2013 will involve the U.S. Under-20 National Team remains to be seen. If he chooses to play for the U.S., he would be considered a sure bet to start in central defense for the Americans, but with the German Under-21 team presenting an opportunity to play in the European championships, Brooks has a difficult decision to make.

The 20-year-old centerback boasts impressive size (at 6-foot-4) and good technical ability for his size. He still needs to work on getting stronger, and has plenty of room to improve and mature, but there is no denying he would be one of the best prospects in the U.S. Men’s National Team pool if he chose to play for the United States.

It should definitely be noted that neither the Under-20 World Cup or the Under-21 European Championships would cap-tie Brooks on the senior level. What it would do is require him to file a one-time switch request with FIFA if he changed his mind.

While that could still be a possibility after this summer, it isn’t unreasonable to believe that the country he chooses to represent this summer will have the advantage on trying to secure his services for the senior team going forward.

What do you think of this development? See Brooks playing for the United States, or think it is inevitable he chooses to play for Germany?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Let the kid follow his heart. He will play for the USA only if he sees no future at the German National Level. I mean, for Christ sakes, he grew up in Germany. Why can’t Muller or Kross have one American parent?

    PS- Saw him play after Christmas break live twice and he was pretty damm good but that was in the Bundesliga 2 which is not exactly La Liga or Serie A. Bottom half of the EPL? Maybe.

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  2. Wouldn’t it be totally awesome if we had a team composed of internationals, none of which were born in America, or even lived here? They just showed up for games, collected their paychecks and went back to their home countries. That would be so American…just about the money.

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  3. Don’t know anything for certain about his personal issues but he should pick Germany on the assumption that he grew up in Germany, his life is in Germany and we dont need mercenaries on a USMNT that will do fine without them.

    Had I my druthers I would not recruit players for the USMNT who were prima facie foreign while, at the same time, I would welcome applications from them citing the reasons they want to play for the USA if they were eligible under FIFA rules, which are quite liberal.

    Before the “xenophobe bigot” charges begin to arrive en masse, let me say that we hired Klinsmann with some vague mandate to progress American soccer. Nobody called that bigoted. I can see how the German Americans could progress our program and how they would not. An argument could be made for both sides. The media have been too quick to paint the issue as black and white with no shades of gray because that is the easy way out.

    Reply
    • Excellency,

      I have no inside info but it seems to me the USSF and JK expect to better Bradley and Arena’s WC campaigns. JK did not take this job to lose and he will take the best players he can find, beg, borrow or steal.

      The reason they hired JK is that he was probably the best foreign coach they could get. The US job is not a very desirable one to the international soccer community. You can argue they should have stayed with American coaches but then why fire Bradley who is in my view the best American manager available? I didn’t see Sunil rehiring the Bruce.

      Sunil thought BB missed a great opportunity. Beat Ghana, which the USSF clearly thought was doable, then who knows what happens with Uruguay? They were probably better than the US but the beauty of a knockout competition is anything can happen. The USSF want JK to go as far as possible in the World Cup. They think in terms of opportunities to promote the game and for them the World Cup is the ultimate opportunity.

      The point is I don’t think the USSF care if the JK lines up 11 Martians, as long as they meet all the eligibility rules and win.

      Their market is not the SBI die hards, it’s the casual fan. The USSF are betting that the casual fan will be like most US sports fans, i.e primarily interested in winning. Besides the whole German American soldiers offspring narrative is a PR dream, lots of great copy there. Along with the Mexican American angle, a good marketer has a lot of good story lines with the USMNT.

      The other thing is that JK is twenty times the PR darling BB was and given the USSF’s desire to market the team don’t think for a minute that does not matter. Just look at how he handled the Sporting News business. That whole episode brought an inordinate amount of media attention to the team and it all played out beautifully.

      This shows you that the USMNT might one day be able to approach the exalted status of the gold standard in this market, the USWNT.

      Reply
  4. It’s interesting that there has been no reaction to comments made by Jorge Ramos on ESPN during the Mexico-USA pre-game show (or was it halftime?). Lee, Keller, Lalas and Ramos were talking about all those Mexican-Americans on the US U-20 team, and Ramos said that he had talked to a number of them personally, and they all said that their preferred option was playing for Mexico, that they played for the US only because Mexico didn’t want them.

    It’s difficult to accuse a South American immigrant, Jorge Ramos, of being racist and anti-immigrant, so the politically correct types prefer just to ignore his remarks. It’s easier to live in a make-believe politically correct world then to deal with uncomfortable truths.

    Now, do we want the US national team to be a team of second-choicers? A team of those who will play for the US only if the country they prefer playing for doesn’t need their services?

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    • David, why would anyone accuse Ramos of being racist? He’s Latino, the subjects of his comment are Latino. It’s pretty silly. What he could be accused of is being wrong. It’s tough to imagine that all of the U.S. U-20s of Mexican descent decided to tell him of all people that they’d rather be playing for Mexico. I think he was simply being presumptuous and talking out of his backside.

      We had Jose Villarreal on the SBi Show recently and he stated pretty clearly that he wants to play for the United States. I’ve heard nothing to support any notion that he or any other U-20s don’t really want to play for the United States.

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    • I’ve only seen Ramos a couple of times so I can’t say I’m very familiar with him.

      When I heard him say the comments you mentioned I didn’t have much of a reaction. Why should I?

      He’s a pretty old guy talking to a bunch of kids who may or may not know him and take him seriously and so on. I don’t know. When I listen to some ESPN guy interviewing an American teenage running back choosing between Alabama and LSU I give it just about the same level of serious attention that I would give to Ramos’ comments, which is to say none.

      These guys are teenagers (maybe you remember what it was like) and you are talking to them about a forever decision one they can never change like the girl they will marry (wait, take that back). So in this context a big grain of salt is in order.

      My guess is they told the old fart what he wanted to hear. Big deal. Y’all shouldn’t get your thongs in a twist over this.

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  5. Obviously I understand we live in the real world but If I could have it my way, if they were a dual Nat or born here I want one thing for all of them to have in common playing for our National team.- PRIDE! I will root for Jones all day long even though he frustrates the hell out of me because he cares about the patch on his chest! I don’t want someone who looks at the US as an opportunity they don’t have with their preferred Country. I listened to an interview with Joe Corona that is basically what he said, US gave him the opportunity that he was waiting for from Mexico. Now although I like Corona’s game I don’t care to see him in our shirt! Love this country and fight for the flag!

    Reply
    • Well that funny because I saw a similar interview where he clearly states that he felt more American than Mexican and that’s why he personally chose the US.

      No offense, but I feel like sometimes people who have the same position as you on this issue. seem to watch and read things and take from it what they want even its the complete opposite of what was actually reported.

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  6. No real opinion on this one. He’s a good prospect, but he plays a position that relies more on work rate, communication, and chemistry than individual physical skill. If Germany wants him, he should give it a shot.

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  7. Say what you will, but I think we should be welcoming these German-American players with open arms. Also, I do not see how we can question any of these players loyalty to the country if they choose the US given that their fathers served in the military. Personally, I hope that we set a standard that these players should lean towards the US because they will be accepted with open arms so long as they fight for the team as much as every other player.

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    • Why should they be more loyal than the children of fathers who didn`t serve in the military. Most of these loyal American servicemen showed no loyalty towards their children and abandoned them.

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      • From what I understand, the fathers of Boyd, Jones, and Chandler all skipped town. Williams’s father did not.
        I don’t know anything about Johnson’s family.

        Because, you know, apparently people are counting now…

  8. Anyone who thinks the German-Anericans don’t have any commitments should watch Boyd bleeding for the US vs El Salvador, Joness with the Snow-Fro vs Costa Rica, Fabian’s darting runs vs Brazil, should I say more?, welcome Brooks to the US team, if he decides to play for the US

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  9. look at the German team, their player grow up in homes speaking other languages, can you say they are truly germans or are they playing for the Mannshaft just to promote themselves?

    the german team have polaks, turks, algerians, spaniards, brazilians, bosnians, africans,

    the french enlist algerians, africans, tunisians,

    the dutch are the worst, they enlist anyone who could help them win a WC.

    Reply
    • Polaks? I’m not in the least bit offended (‘Polak’ actually is the noun for a male Pole in Polish), but I have to wonder whether all the self-righteous on this board happened to skip over your comment.

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  10. Sometimes it seems that this site is taken over by the politically correct types still in high school (or at most college) who have never been abroad outside of a spring break in Mexico, and whose brains receive daily a healthy doze of politically correct brainwashing courtesy of our lovely education system. Everyone with a different opinion is immediately labeled a bigot, moron, idiot, a phobe of any kind.

    Reply
    • if the show fits, my friend. anyone defining what is good or not good for america through excluding people opportunity deserves to take some lumps. it’s not politically correct, it’s common sense.

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    • Hiding your bigotry behind “those politically correct” people is just that–hiding your bigotry behind playing the victim card.

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    • While I question “a phobe of any kind” ??, the fact that you just wrote out 69 properly spelled and, more or less properly used words is, I’m guessing, due to “our lovely education system”.

      You are using the same broad brush techniques that you are accusing others of using.

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  11. Deutschland. Most probably, but I’ll gladly eat my words if he does commit to the full men’s national team of the Estados Unidos.

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  12. Let’s see, well, he is a US citizen and a German one. He grew up and plays soccer in Germany and he is a good soccer player. He will choose what he thinks is the best path for himself if he has a choice. On the one hand, the German National team whose senior team has multiple wins and places in the WC, on the other hand the US, with not so much of a medal history, but a chance to shine on a team that wants to develop into a world power house over the next several years.

    I guess it depends on whether the German team wants him or not as well as how he sees himself developing in the future.

    Good luck to him.

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  13. Well, I for one hope he picks Germany. I don’t care who he is, we don’t need any more Germans on this team or in the program. Klansman was hired to bring our program forward. That does not by replacing Americans with a slew of Germans who happened to be the result of servicemen stationed in Germany. I would rather lose with our own boys that win with a team full of the German/Americans that just keep popping up.

    And none of this Timmy crap either where he does a “I want to play for Germany first but if they don’t want me, I’ll pick USA.” Develop our own players first. This is getting ridiculous

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    • You’re a moron.

      JAB was in the US youth system before Klinsmann came into the job.

      If he chooses Germany, so be it. Too bad Germany can’t take you off our hands, too.

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      • Right on. If a handful of players from other coutries are better than everyone in our own, perhaps we should be looking at changing our system rather than turning the better players away.

    • -10000

      Our team should be open too all Americans no matter where they were born. It should be a representation of the nation itself and I think our team more than most show the true diversity of our nation. That’s something you should be proud of.

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      • And how does someone who comes to this country a few times a year to play a game of soccer represent the true diversity of our nation? At least one of the Germans (possibly more) had never even been to this country before his first game for the US.

      • So what? So they are not AMERICAN?? Were they not born on American soil overseas or too American parents? If they were walking down the streets of your city would you look at them any differently than anyone else walking down the streets? Do you possess a sixth sense that allows you to instantly identify all AMERICANS who weren’t born in MURICA??

        I’m going to jump to conclusions here a claim that you don’t possess that sense. fore one it doesn’t exist and secondly those who think they have it do live in MURICA which sadly does exist.

      • Jim, it should reflect the best players, nothing else. The national team is not a salad for which the coaches should try to hand-pick “just the right amount” from various races, as you seem to suggest.

        I truly can’t understand why more people don’t question comments like this.

      • Reading comprehension fail is strong with this one. I never seem to suggest that their was a quota for certain types of players to be on our team. I said the team should represent the nation in its appearance. That doesn’t mean specifically targeting racial diversity just for the he’ll of it. that simply states that a nation which has as much diversity as our , one would think that the national team would REFLECT that diversity in its makeup…..again not saying picking certain players because of ethic background but making an observational statement in regards to what an American today to is seen to be.

        Americans born outside of the states are Americans just as those who are born within the states regardless of the color of there skin or ethic background. It they hold American citizenship they should be considered equally for the team as those who are born here in the states.
        So if the team was made up of only black kids, or white kids, or Japanese kids it wouldn’t and shouldn’t matter because they were seen as the best talent as you stated. But would that team be a representation of today’s America? No…..

        And too some extent yes, but hopefully I don’t have to explain why.

      • It either reflects the best players, or it reflects your diversity standards. Flowery phrases like “reflects the nation’s diversity” sound nice, but they signify, by their very nature, artificiality. I realize you didn’t specifically suggest hand-picking. But your preferred result can occur no other way. The US national basketball team very poorly reflects the nation’s ethnic makeup. But it is a source of pride to many. No one would deny that the best American basketball players play for that team. Any attempt to make it “reflect our nation’s diversity” would be shameful.

        Secondly, I feel any talk of “diversity” and “our nation’s appearance” badly misses the point of this conversation anyway. To my knowledge, no one suggests tension due to race/ethnicity exists within the national team. Hispanic, black, and white players long have co-existed and played well together. The controversy is about culture, not race or ethnicity. The players raised in Germany represent a different culture. “Our nation’s diversity” is not in question here. At all.

        Finally, I want to say that I fully support the presence of the German-Americans in the national team. I’d like to see Brooks play in the Gold Cup or even the WCQ this summer. But those who question whether these players really want to, or should, be on the team deserve to voice their opinions. Theirs is a very valid viewpoint, even though I disagree with it. Some have voiced it crudely; but far more often, people have tried to drown it out with rhetoric about racism/xenophobia. Those assessments very badly miss the mark. This article is like two days old, so I know nobody is reading this rant…

      • It freakin’ JOHN ANTHONY BROOKS (said like “The Catalina Wine-Mixer”) …people are still reading these posts. Except for the people who are just hearing about him now, seriously??

      • ” that a nation which has as much diversity as our , one would think that the national team would REFLECT that diversity in its makeup…..”

        My problem with that is that not everyone in this nation plays or cares about soccer.

        The national team, then, will reflect the diversity of those people WHO ARE MOST INTIMATELY INVOLVED with the sport, not every American.

        My guess is it will be tilted towards immigrants and their offspring because that is who cared most about the game initially in this country and, probably still do.

        And if you scan any list of USMNT players going back 50-60 years or more you will see that is true.

  14. For all those calling for “Real” Americans and/or Players who’ve been developed by a US System please take a minute to think about the History of this country and of the US National Team.
    America is a country made of immigrants who came to make a better life for themselves. If you are a natralized citizen, 1st generation, 2nd or 3rd does not matter….You are an American. That is what matters…not how well you speak the language, but how much you believe in the Concept that is America (Namely a “Melting Pot”).
    For those wanting players who have been developed by a US System, I honestly ask the question WHAT SYSTEM? MLS Accadamies….have only been around for like 10 years. ODP/Travel Clubs have been in existance for years…but the requirements for coaches at these levels, until reciently, were not of even good quality let alone the highest quality. It will take another Generation of players (10 years) to really reap the benifits of a domestic development program. Even then we’ll have a number of players who, during their formative years, will be trained/developed outside the US….like the U-17 player playing in Brazil, or the kid at West Ham who’s grandfather coaches in MLS….or any number of U-16 to U-23 players on Mexican League rosters.
    Compitition for spots at all levels will force players to show consistancy and improvement regardless of where they train/play for club.

    Reply
    • Youth Development: We should be playing kids U8-U12 (size 4 ball) on a 5 vs 5 format on half a field. Size 5 ball should be played with U12 – adult 11 vs 11. This is what the USSF should be mandating with all Youth Soccer leagues. 5 on 5 at the youth level will give the players more touches on the ball, develop the concept of space awareness on both sides of the ball, and have more fun. MLS clubs should be doing this. That U8 player will have 10 years of playing experience when he/she turns 18.

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      • It is not the norm. US Youth soccer is mostly 8 VS 8 and not every association follows USSF. Even US Youth soccer is permitted to have 11 vs 11. I have been a coach so I know what I speak of..you are once again lost with the things you post.

      • Where I am U-10 plays 6v6, U-12, 8v8, and U-14 plays 11 v 11. U-10 and U-12 use a 4 ball and U-14 uses a 5.

      • As a youth coach for many, many years… that stuff happens. The real issue is that in Europe, kids that have no ability are weeded out at a young age. In the US, they get some kind of trophy. You wouldnt believe the politics involved in trying to form select teams. Parents will fight tooth and nail to make sure their kid gets on the best teams, even if they don’t belong there.

        Then there is the club system. Its much more brutal. Very expensive and often very bad for sll but the most talented kids. Many talented kids don’t like club teams and stop with them because of the way they’re treated. Many average players stay in, and become fundamentally solid but not talented, club players

        The MLS academy system is nice and maybe as close to a Euro system that there is but still far short. Takes a major commitment by the players for time and travel and only a few can qualify

        I’ve seen an Everton youth team play local club teams a few times during a local summer tournament. The games were mostly even with Everton winning most. The US club teams mostly didnt look to bad against them. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention Everton was U12 while the club teams were U16….

    • “America is a country made of immigrants who came to make a better life for themselves.”

      Don’t you see a very obvious contradiction here? Is any of Jones, Chandler, Brooks, Johnson, Williams, et al an immigrant? Have they come to America to make a better life for themselves? They only come to America to play a few games of soccer, and once their careers are over, they’ll forget all about America. They are just mercenaries who play for the US only because it gives them the only opportunity to play in a world cup.

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      • Why don’t more people question these sorts of comments? Do you even know what “racism” means?

        By the way, I’m a big supporter of Brooks playing for the US. I simply find comments like this one repulsive.

      • No they are not immigrants….they are the sons of US Service men. In some cases they were estranged from their fathers….in others they didn’t have the economics to travel abroad to the US when they were young.
        However you look at it they are US Citizens, and as such have every right to play for the USMNT if they are good enough. The fact that they are better than the Bulk of US players is more a comment on how poorly we develop players than anything else.

      • I agree with you. These people only play for America because they have no other Nat options. They don’t live here, many have never been here and have no desire to be here… but theyre Americans? They may satisfy the “rules” but I don’t think they’d have a lot of luck pulling a USA passport with their “qualifications.”

        Main point here is, years ago, we went down this road with players like Roy Wegerle, and Thomas Dooley, David Regis and Earnie Stewart to name a few. I would like to think that we’ve come far enough as a nation, soccerwise, that we no longer need to find these type of players to fill out a roster. Seems like we’re going the other direction all of a sudden and I think this is a giant step backward.

      • Juan,

        You can’t play for the USMNT unless you have a US passport.

        Chandler, Jones, Johnson, etc. all have US passports already.

        My assumption is JAB already has a passport or just has to
        file the paperwork.

  15. I know nothing about this player, but given the millions of posts he must be good.

    Thinking about a guy who made the decision not to play for USA, Rossi, when is he making his return to the playing fields? Its really to bad that he has had these injuries, because I think he was a top 10 striker without them. That also makes me ask, what player with a USA passport has the best chance of winning the World Cup? I would have this as a function of 1) player’s probability to play for national team, and 2) national team’s chances of winning in Brazil. Do any of the guys in Brazil or on Germany/Mexico/Spain have US passports?

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  16. Just watched brooks tonight live in berlin. The kids got talent, big physical, quick, good with his feet. We could use him. I’m less high on morales.

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    • Do you have specific examples regarding Morales’ play?

      In his 1 appearance for the US U23s, he was possibly MotM.

      In his 1 appearance for the senior team, he was above average. Given that it was the January match against Canada, where most of the team sucked, that’s not much.

      That said, I got the impression he was a good prospect. Especially given that he’s worked his way back into the Hertha 18 after a lengthy spell not dressing.

      Reply
    • Morales only played 17 minutes, did he screw things up? I didn’t see the game, so can’t comment beyond his playing time

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      • Morales played a decent game last night and did well coming in cold after niemayer was injured after 10 minutes or so. morales is a solid player. he’s got loads of technical ability but at the end if the day he’s just another central midfielder. And it remains to be seen whether he really has the toughness and drive to thrive in that role. Brooks just seems to have real poise and a bright future.

  17. Every time I read a report on John Anthony Brooks he has a different height. First he was 6’6″ then he was 6’7″ then he was 6’3″ and now he’s 6’4″.

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  18. Go with your heart JAB. It won’t by any means crush that US U-20 team if he decides to rep Germany instead. I have to say though that Germany had no interest in JAB until the US starting showing interest and calling him into U-20 camps in the spring and summer of 2011 and the U-23 camp in the fall of 2011.

    And Germany’s U-21 coach has not called him into a U-21 camp. Nor was he called into the last U-21 camp for Germany in March.

    Reply
  19. I personally have no problem with the influx of German-Americans on our roster other than from a developmental standpoint–it’s important that we grow talent here in the States as well, and I think we’re well on our way to doing that with a number of MLS teams now running their own academies.

    If JAB chooses the Stars and Stripes, I’d welcome him with open arms.

    Reply
    • The interesting thing is the supply of talent coming from those US academies into other countries’ national teams, at least at the youth level. Look at the U17s right now — 6 US citizen players on Jamaica, 1 on Haiti, 1 US resident (not sure if citizen) on Canada. There were several in the U20s where it makes more sense for the federations to pay for the top US-based candidates to travel to camps.

      Reply
  20. Im pretty sure Ives is misinformed…. in most articles and websites JLB is listed as 6’6″…. one even listed him as 6’7″….could this be a detrimental for a soccer player?

    Have any of you seen him play on tv? I have, he sticks out immediately and towers over all players on both sides… which is strange since players in Bundesliga are easily 6’3′, 6’4″…

    US already have too many towers as CBs… Cam, Gonzo, Goodson, Besler, Ream…. we need more Cannevaro and less Testa…

    Reply
    • There seems to be some disagreement on his height. For now I will stick with 6-foot-4 until we have some official verification that he’s taller. And yes, I’ve seen him play plenty of times, and he usually towers over shorter players. The whole “players in the bundesliga are easily 6’3′-6’4” notion is silly. That isn’t a normal height even in the Bundesliga, let alone Bundesliga 2, where Brooks actually plays.

      Reply
    • It can certainly be a hindrance, but it depends on his overall athleticism. Crouch and Mertesacker definitely appear a little clumsy and awkward at times while guys like Llorente and Zlatan moves very smoothly.

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      • move not moves – oops. Those guys I think are 6’5 though. I don’t know anyone 6’7 that is completely fluid and athletic (no soccer players anyway).

      • Jan Koller – Don’t forget how much influence he had v USA in 2006. Shame for that Czech team the he was also injured in that game.

        CB is the position where size can be an out and out asset.. if you have speed to cover you. Which leads to the point/truth that our good CBs are trending to the size and not speed.

      • A soccer commentator once pointed out that Crouch has scored more with his feet than his head. He really is pretty skillful for a guy his size.

      • Slow is not aesthetic. Slow is functional. It might be the primary functional tool a soccer player possesses. There is a reason why Crouchie has often struggled to break into the starting 11 throughout his career and it ain’t because he’s not pretty.

  21. I just want people to choose based on who they feel passionate about representing. I dislike when a player chooses based on a perceived opportunity to play in a World Cup.

    I’d rather not qualify for a WC with proud Americans (even if they are dual citizens who don’t speak English) than win a WC with players who wished they could’ve played for a soccer powerhouse (even if they are dual citizens who speak fluent English).

    Reply
  22. If Brooks knows he can start for the German U21 and plays better than what is on the team now then I see that as very tempting. If Brooks knows he is one of the best in the US pool for U20 and the coaching staff agrees then he definitely has a tough choice to make. 6’4″ and decent skills is a good foundation to build on at Center Back. All the material is there it just needs to take shape over time. So, hopefully Brooks will look at the future. On the US side I would be asking coaches about the possibility of the Gold Cup. On the club side I would be seriously looking to play in the Bundesliga. The Gold Cup could fast track him to the USMNT. On the German side should he go beyond the level of U21 and struggles to get in the Bundesliga I see him having trouble getting to the full national team. The German U21 may be it for him. The USMNT has more avenues and opportunites for the USMNT. I would go with USA.

    Reply
    • The USMNT has little to no influence on how JAB’s club career will go. His future development will be up to whatever clubs he plays for going forward.

      If the hype is to be believed this guy has an unlimited ceiling but at this point where he will actually wind up and how well he will do is unknown.

      Reply
      • The more reason to set his club goals higher. He may get to the Bundesliga with Hertha for next season. It’s always a positive to steal a talent from the DFB.

  23. I would love for garber to to tell MLS teams to approach, all the mixed blooded americans out there, like mexican american- german american- british american- in order to improve MLS league image and national team. I can see all mexican americans players like torres, corona, castillo, richard, and many more in MLS, only if MLS paid more like ligaMX. As for the german, british, americans, they can come for 2 or 3 seasons, then go back in order to increase their player price and MLS would actually benefit from them.

    Reply
    • The U17 team just added Joel Soñora whose father is Diego Soñora was a 3 time MLS all-star. Joel and his younger brother were born in the US. Maybe these MLS Germans & Brits can add to that pool (like Ronaldo’s US-born son or Shevchenko’s children with an American model). Too bad Beckham didn’t have a son born in the US (his daughter was born here, but the US has a pretty full pool on the women’s side).

      Reply
    • Read an article about Joe Corona and he said that coming out of high school he was hoping for a contract offer from MLS, but got no interest, so he took a soccer scholarship at San Diego State. He played one year when Tijuana, then a brand new team, offered him a contract. So, MLS could have gotten him for regular base salary if they had been interested. It’s not always about the money, but recognizing talent, too.

      Reply
      • yup. DeMerit got looked over by Chicago when he was young. it happens a lot in this country. i’d like to think it’s changing…

      • saco-vertiz is another one. was with NYRB U20 team and they didn’t pick him up, instead they went with Miller and saco-vertiz went to play for Universitario, Peruvian first division and has been called for Peruvian national team

  24. This guy has inspired me to speak like him for the rest of the day…”Now I know not whether I will have pork chops or tacos for dinner. I will consider in the coming hours in peace.”

    Reply
  25. I’m sure Brooks is a good player and I know he’s an American citizen, but he was born and raised in Germany and doesn’t appear to have spent much time here. I don’t like when countries do this and it’s no different when it’s my country. Let’s make sure our youth system is producing players as good JAB right here at home and then we won’t need to find players with tenuous connections to the USA.

    Reply
    • OK this is honest and not over the top, so I’ll give you no static except to say I’m pretty sure you’ll come to appreciate all our players regardless of how they came to represent us.

      Reply
  26. If he speaks broken English like it appears from his quote, and doesn’t have 100% US pride, which it appears he doesn’t if he even has to think about it then he can stick w the Germans. I’m tired of these “on the fence” loophole players just b/c they have an American parent. We have enough resources here in the US where we shouldn’t have to rely on these types of players. Nothing against the kid personally. It’s not his fault he has the option to choose but I’d prefer actual American’s born and raised in America that wouldn’t even hesitate 2 seconds to make a decision like this. USA!

    Reply
    • So we should ban immigrants from the national team? You don’t see anything unamerican about that?

      Excluding people as an expression of patriotism is a very ugly form of patriotism.

      Reply
    • You make a perfectly valid case. Common culture, whether through shared language or geography, or even a consistent technicality, like being born in the USA, would seem like bare minimums for a national team candidate. The problem is that each of these variables on their own are not enough to warrant exclusion, so by extension, all of them together are also not enough to warrant exclusion. So, we are forced to consider absolute foreigners with no commonality whatsoever save the piece of paper conferring their citizenship.

      Some super-fans are proud of this piecemeal identity, as you see here. The coaches don’t mind – they need results first and foremost. The important test will be the general public’s sustained interest in this team. Will an average fan be inclined to care about a group of players with whom he shares nothing in common? Will the importation of foreign players with no unified culture dent the sport’s profitability? It’s a social experiment in progress.

      Imagine if the national teams of Spain, Japan, and Nigeria suddenly began to recruit players from different continents around the world to the point that the teams became fractionally better but no longer resembled their nations. Should fans be happy or sad about this?

      Reply
      • Excellent comment, Lazio Curva Sud. Early last year I felt exactly like some of the other posters on this thread hoping to cap-tie any player who happened to have been born outside the US to a foreign mother but from an American father. Why? Well, because they must be better than players born and raised and trained in soccer in the USA and by gosh I want the team to be good. But the whole Timothy Chandler soap opera and the damage I have seen it do to USMNT chemistry has made me rethink the whole thing and I have done an about face.

        As I posted above, I am all for leaving the door open to players eligible for a US passport, but need to be careful with team chemistry. Quite frankly, if it came down next summer to Jurgen Klinsmann having one spot left for either Geoff Cameron or Timothy Chandler, I would be heartbroken for Cameron if Klinsmann give the last ticket to Chandler, and I suspect a lot of USMNT members would not be happy with that choice. (Or if Klinsmann would choose to take John Brooks and leave Omar Gonzalez.)

      • “But the whole Timothy Chandler soap opera and the damage I have seen it do to USMNT chemistry has made me rethink the whole thing and I have done an about face”

        What damage?.

      • Just want to point out that this isn’t always the case. Look at Terrence Boyd, for example. He’s a German-American, but it’s hard to argue against his love for the Stars and Stripes.

      • How interesting that you mention Nigeria. They called Bright Dike of the Portland Timbers who was born and raised in the US but has Nigerian eligibility through his parents, into their pre-AFCON camp and he’s even suited up twice for the Golden Eagles. I don’t recall any Nigerian newspapers stopping to question his commitment to Nigeria.

      • Your anecdote isn’t some proof positive for cosmopolitan, globalized national teams.

        First, Dike shares more in common with native Nigerians than the German-Americans in question who appear flippant over their affiliation. Secondly, there is no popular issue anywhere over accepting players who are unique in some way (as opposed to foreign in every way). Finally, while a team can absorb some nuance, the uncertainty lies with selecting nuance as a policy. Dike is one player, but if half of Nigeria’s roster had fleeting ties to the country, that’s when you’d hear about it in the Nigerian newspapers (which you don’t actually read, LOL).

      • Bright Dike had no chance at playing for the USMNT. No disrespect intended, it’s just a fact.

        He would have been crazy not to accept the call up by Nigeria.

      • LCS,

        “Imagine if the national teams of Spain, Japan, and Nigeria suddenly began to recruit players from different continents around the world to the point that the teams became fractionally better but no longer resembled their nations”

        Japan is an interesting case. If Manchester United is the benchmark then Korea, Japan and Mexico’s guys seem to be making it there while our guys get shipped out. What does that tell you?

        Japan is a society that is less accepting of certain differences. They are a more closed, homogenous society in general but even they had their naturalized Brazilian, Alex, and they now have a Dutch striker Mike Havenaar on their team.

        The Japanese would not do it like the US is doing it today, they draw heavily from foreign development but they do it differently than the US.

        Since 1998 they have had 5 national team managers, only one of whom was Japanese. Of their current national team pool they have 9 guys in the Bundesliga, 2 in Holland, 3 in England ( Man U, Southampton and Wigan, all EPL, for now anyway), one in Serie A and one in Russia . Only one them is a keeper and most of them are pretty good players.

        Off the top of my head they may well have a better talent pool than the USMNT does.

      • Spain and Japan are not diverse multiethnic countries. Having foreign born players represents the United States better than not having them.

    • Todd C.

      “Nothing personal”? , of course it’s personal. You are talking about Brooks and belittling his manner of speaking. How good is your German? Of course it’s personal.

      Some points:

      Besler did not hesitate to play for the US because he had no choice.
      Does that mean he will give it 100%? Maybe. If he had the choice to play for Holland, Germany or France and the US do you think he would hesitate? I think he’d be crazy not to

      Do you follow college sports? Do you suppose kids, which is what we are talking about here hesitate, I call it THINK, about their choices if they get recruited in basketball by Syracuse, UCLA, Florida , Duke and Ohio State? Or Alabama, LSU, Oregon and USC in Football? And when those kid finally decide do you think they don’t give you everything they have to their school? What evidence do you have that of that? And don’t tell me it’s a country not a school. It’s a TEAM. All politics is local. In the end you play for your guys and maybe your manager.

      When you were 18-19 were all the decisions you made clear headed and correct based on sound reasoning and back by passion for the cause so to speak? Be Honest.

      Do you think a single option guy like Besler will give it more effort or pride than a dual option guy like Jermaine Jones gave when he had his leg cut open in the Costa Rica game, took stitches at the half and went back on to play very well in crappy conditions?

      It’s not about how or where you start; it is about how and where you finish.

      Reply
  27. Every single half-black American/half-white German has opted to play for the USA, even if they’ve never lived there. The USA has more than ten such players in various national team pools. It would be surprising if Brooks bucked that trend.

    Reply
    • And I think you have raised an important point. There are many people in Germany, including even many star athletes have a harder time gaining acceptance when they come from a mixed race background.. There is a historic built-in racism, that, to their credit, German society is trying hard to overcome, and they are making better strides than many States in America are. In my lifetime, and not to long ago, blacks in the US were admired for their achievements in areas like sports and music, but were turned away from restaurants, hotels and neighborhoods. Those days are gone and have been replaced with more subtle forms. And so it is in Germany. But no up and coming soccer player, especially at his age, will turn his back on the German national team if there is the SLIGHTEST hint they are interested. It would be bad for your career. The worst thing that could happen is for the coaches of the club and national team, string him along, giving him lip service, in order to keep open and competitive, a very talented pool of young German players. I do think Timmy Chandler was such a person.

      Having Klinsmann is sort of a talisman in recruiting young and promising Germericans..

      I do think that Brooks will end up in the US camp. I think now he is giving fealty to the German powers that be, in that it is a serious decision to be made. It’really is not.

      Reply
  28. OT but what are some opinions on Eurotech summer camps? I have a nephew I am going to sign up but was wondering how the camps were. He’s about 10 yo.

    Reply
    • A few of my friends still talk about how they enjoyed going to Eurotech camps growing up. Not sure how much that helps, but they seemed like they had a good time. They won’t turn any kid into a superstar, but apparently they’re a fun place for kids who love soccer to play together and get some different coaching than they’re used to.

      Reply
  29. I don’t care one way or the other whether he chooses the US or chooses Germany. If he chooses the US, then fine. Like any other player in the pool, he will have to earn a spot on the basis of merit, meaning what he has to offer to make the team better, and that includes most importantly the desire in his heart to win for the shirt and also being able to positively contribute to team chemistry. No free tickets on the USMNT for players simply because they were born in Germany. And if he chooses Germany then good for him and I wish him all the best. We have young promising centerbacks already in the US pool aching to wear the shirt and who we know will sweat blood for a win and will make us proud and, I think, can take us far.

    Reply
    • I’d modify your argument and suggest an intial captying appearance in something like Gold Cup based on sheer potential and size, then reverting back to merit. If you sit around waiting for him to blossom and he does it in the German league, and we have no hold, the Germans could snap him up, flip him if he plays US youth.

      Reply
  30. Good Luck to him in whatever program he chooses. I think though, that he will have a far tougher time in breaking into a German National team back line, even for a friendly, that he would for the US (where JK would put him almost immediately into the merry-go-round that is the USMNT back four.)

    That being said. I think the USMNT is on the verge of a truly large rollover in talent. New rookies like Villarreal and McBean, as well as Luis Gil. will cut their Sr. teeth this summer in USMNT friendlies or even WCQ. The talent is there, just not the experience. What better way to Bring Brooks in, than to include him in this new class of talent.

    Reply
  31. He would be an important player to both youth national teams but on the senior level he has more opportunities with the US than DFB. The competition for DFB playing time seems tighter. Here’s to hoping brooks dreams of Stars and Stripes and chooses the US.

    Reply
  32. Really? This story comes from a poorly translated German article.

    Heres some facts that everyone is ignoring:
    -Brooks has never featured for the German U21’s, who just finished one of their final preparation camps for the Euros
    -Brooks hasn’t featured for the German U20’s in months
    -The German U21 coach said himself that Brooks is in the running for the 2015 U21 Euros.

    He’s not playing at the U21 Euros this year. If anything his decision is USMNT v. Germany in 2015.

    Reply
    • Interesting to note. If what you say is true it would seem to tip the scales towards the US. He’ll get playing time this summer for the US. He has to showcase his talents now and the US will give him that.

      Reply
    • He’d be 22 in 2015. I know because I was calculating the numbers in my head to figure out his age for the 2016 Olympics year….23. Interestingly, neither team qualified last cycle so our Olympic quali failure might not be a dealbreaker, if you suggested the possibility of an Olympic spot as a fallback from our senior pool.

      All due respect but with a kid of his size and potential, senior cap him now and sort out his long term value to us later.

      Reply
      • That’s poor policy. We’ll lose out on more players than we’ll gain by capping them and waiting to see if they turn out to be good later.

      • You make it sound like JAB has no say in the matter.

        What you propose is certainly not to his advantage.

        If he has half a brain he’s not going to let JK cap tie him unless that is what he is sure he wants.

  33. mamma mia, how much sex were our service members having while stationed in Germany?

    we need to open some military bases in argentina and brazil.

    Reply
    • Ha! Or better yet, send nat team vets like McBride/Keller to Germany as undercover serviceman and have them “complete their mission” with the mothers of Klose, Lahm, Schweinsteiger, and Neuer. We’ll breed our way to our first WC!

      Reply
    • “we need to open some military bases in argentina and brazil.”

      Really? You think that”s an original line? That got old in the Thomas Dooley Era, get some new material.

      Reply
      • take it easy bud.
        im gonna go ahead and guess he hasnt seen the comment anywhere. plus im sure many readers here werent commenting on blog posts during the Dooley era. hell I was barely alive.
        complaining about a military base comment?
        really? you think thats an orginal line? lighten up tool bag

    • In WWII the English had a saying, The worst things about American G.I.’s is that they are over sexed, over paid, and OVER HERE!!.

      Reply
    • +1, agree 100%.

      I think even six months ago we would be fretting much more, but the emergence of Omar Gonzalez (who, it should be noted, is another dual-national–he could have chosen Mexico) has, I think, stabilized the CB position for us for years to come.

      Having Brooks would be great. But it won’t sink us if he chooses Germany.

      Reply
      • If I had to choose between either Omar and John Brooks no question that I would want Omar making the trip to WC 2014.

      • Hard call for me. Gonzalez has been playing so-so these past 2 games for the LAG. I’m not sure Gonzalez is better.

      • 4 games in less than two weeks will certainly put a strain on the tail end of your performance (not to mention coast to coast travelling).
        I’m not saying Omar is faultless, but in watching his last 2 matches, he was definitely not at 100%

  34. Im not sure him choosing United States would be a good thing. Look at the division of german-americans in the team right now, being questioned on their loyalty and true american fighting spirit. many of these guys only choose the U.S. because they dont see themselves moving up in the German National team (Chandler). Is that an attitude we want in our Yanks, who continually show the never say die american attitude.

    Reply
    • Who says the German players have a poor attitude or lack loyalty or are divided in the lockeroom?? Just that SI article with no sources that weren’t anonymous… in other words, don’t believe everything you read…

      Reply
      • It was a Sporting News article not SI and Brian Strauss is a well-respected journalist who would not make things up. Also even the players who criticized those who spoke to Strauss anonymously, didnt deny what was said.

      • He may be well-respected, but he didn’t say how many of the 11 players he drew quotes from made comments about the German-Americans. In fact he quoted only one. There is not nearly enough there to make such sweeping accusations.

      • I have anonymous sources that, unequivocally, refute that Brian Strauss is a “well-respected journalist”.

        So, for the record: Brian Strauss is no longer a well-respected journalist.

        It’s been settled.

      • Sorry, but Strauss was way out line on this. To use anonymous sources the way he did is to allow yourself to be used by someone with an agenda…probably someone who was not getting the playing time they wanted or had some other axe to grind. What he did was not journalism, it was simply repeat innuendo and by giving his sources anonymity the reader has no way of knowing or guessing how credible the sources are or why they are so unhappy. That’s not reporting, that’s taking sides.

      • Regardless of the truth to this ‘Merican/Germerican divide (none of us are there), everyone and their grandma should see that Jermaine Jones is committed to the USA and sees himself as American (and German, which isn’t a crime to consider yourself containing 2 nationalities) and possesses whatever intangibles we expect from our national team. You can speculate about other guys, but Jermaine Jones is one of ours, through and through. Even says he wants to end his career in the US. We all remember being pissed at Chandler, and he still needs to prove he belongs on the field, but don’t say anything about Jones, and I don’t really know what you could say about Johnson or Boyd either, as their commitment seems very high too. I worry this is our frustration at Chandler being pressed onto other German born Americans.

      • +1

        I don’t think it’s a coincidence that all of these guys are 1) mixed race, military father guys, and 2) choosing the U.S. over Germany. Chandler, Jones, Johnson, Williams, Boyd, and now Brooks are all guys who had an African-American father stationed in Germany, they all have American names (Fabian is the only one that is somewhat common in Germany), and they all seem to feel very strong ties to their American heritage. I’m speculating here of course, but I think the odds are in our favor that Brooks will join the Yanks.

      • Nationalism aside….if you had 2 potential offers…one from the Yankees who are more or less guaranteed a shot at the playoffs & championship every year, with players that will make you better…..or playing for the Cubs – up and coming lovable underdogs that haven’t done much…yet
        In terms of your career and as a developing player….if Germany (expected in top 4 in ’14) wanted you, why would consider anything else? And yes, Chandler is a d-bag, but could help the US with technical skill and depth the US still lacks

    • It’s definitely not a good thing, it is a stop gap. We want to be capable of producing top talent here in our own country, like Germany, Italy and the Netherlands do. I’d rather play a kid who is a product of the American “system” so he can get that experience and develop. We cant keep giving these opportunities to play at the International level away to players from other countries’ systems and then expect our players to develop to their full potential.

      Reply
      • Few countries have as many dual nationals as the USA. They are a part of America and will always be part of the national team. As long as there are dual nationals and as long as soccer is the world’s most popular sport this will always be the case.

      • That’s just an asinine comment. The German Americans only enhance our team. Native born players will subsequently need to step up their PROGRESS to make this team now and in the future. It’s the reality of International soccer. Think Mehmet Ozul is hampering German “progress”? No, didn’t think so.

      • John chose the wrong player but his sentiments are correct.

        Is Guiseppe Rossi hurting the progress of Italian players?

        Is Cacau hurting the development of German players?

        Is Pepe hurting the development of Portuguese players?

        Is Kevin Prince Boateng hurting the development of Ghanaian players?

        To say fielding foreign born players hurts the development of American makes no sense and has no basis in reality. Do you think top quality American-born players are saying “Well shucks, the coach is playing foreign born players, I have no chance of every making the national team so I will quit playing soccer and not try to ever improve as a player.” If by chance there is a soccer player somewhere who has said this, I absolutely do not want him playing for the Nats because he has no heart and is a quitter.

      • And he wasn’t a German citizen until the 1999 law allowing non-German heritage individuals to gain German citizenship.

      • I’m not sure whether or not your national team is good has anything to do with soccer in your country, nor that it should. Most African stars develop outside their home country (and Ghana has knocked our largely American-developed squads out 2 WCs running). In many cases, helping your American kids the most should be seen as allowing them to develop to their best potential, and if that’s going abroad then so be it. I hate to bring up vague economics, but we just don’t have the same market for soccer that other countries do, so we will continue to ship our best talent to better markets abroad and this is beneficial to them and us. They make more money and play at a higher level while we don’t have to put resources into it and still reap the benefits for our national team. And until we change the rules for citizenship it would be silly not to include the entire pool of Americans, rather than some Know-Knothings-esque idea of “native” Americans. If he’s a citizen, and good at soccer, I want him to play for us.

        All that said, of course we should develop soccer as best we can here, but what does that have to do with having a vague criteria for who is American enough to be on our national team? Best 11 American players is who I want to see.

      • Those African nations dont have the resources we do here in the US. Their players have very few choices other than to go abroad if they want to get the training they need to make it. Very few Americans are going to choose to go abroad at 12 yrs of age so that just is not a reliable source for developing players, plus our coaches then have no control over it. US soccer has made a sustained effort for several years now to revamp and improve our youth player development so that we can compete. Our young players need those International caps to develop as players. Otherwise there is no point. There is no point in Klinsmann implementing a uniform style of play if it cant be tested out at the U20, U23 levels. How do we otherwise assess and improve the job US soccer is doing? What’s the point of having a uniform playing style if someone isnt going to called in for a U20 competition just because some guys over somewhere else has been in good form for the last month?

      • shane,,

        “Our young players need those International caps to develop as players”

        No they don’t.

        An international youth cap is recognition of the fact that you have developed to the point where you deserve to be recognized.

        Failure to get Under whatever caps should spur you to seek other venues to better yourself.

        By excluding foreign born players, you are trying to rig the game to recognize native born players and what you are doing is giving them an artificially inflated sense of their abilities.

        For which they will pay later.
        National teams don’t develop players. Do the math. You don’t spend enough time with a national team.

        Clubs develop players.

      • And there is a difference between being a dual-national and being a dual national whose soccer development has come SOLEY from an entirely foreign system. What is the point of improving our soccer system here, developing an American syle of playing as Klinsmann says he wants to do, if a player from a foreign system is going to be given preference because he is judged to be slightly better.

      • Question and I’m being honest here. Do you think the Sr. national team helps develop talent?? Development is what MLS, NASL, USL, Youth national teams, and so on is for. The Sr. team is about putting the best US talent — often developed by other means — out on the field. We have to be careful about trotting out dual nationals who don’t have a love and real appreciation for this country but 9 times out 10 I have zero issues with dual nationals. I just want the best talent on the field repping the US.

      • This whole article is about whether Brooks will play U21 Euro or U20 USA and I do think those are for developing players. Also, the senior team is a step up so to an extent that is also for developing players to handle that level. Do you do it in the World Cup, no, but there are plenty of times after a WC cycle and in friendlies where everyone uses the senior team to develop players for that level of play.

      • shane and Mike V.

        The USMNT is a little different from most of the high profile national teams because it is on a four year cycle, the World Cup every four years.

        The Europeans are on a two year cycle, World Cup 2010 and then Euro 2012.

        The South Americans are on the same cycle with Copa America.

        The US has the only Gold Cup and it is now a devalued competition. It is only taken seriously when the Confederations Cup place is at stake. Otherwise it’s where you cap, with all due respect, Logan Pause, Jay Heaps and Brian Carrol or promising newcomers (Holden) or youngsters. The point is the USMNT does not have the continuously competitive atmosphere at the present time to help develop a team in an organized fashion like the Europeans or the Brazilians can.

        Players do not develop unless they are really tested. A hundred high profile friendlies with the best teams in the world can’t equal having to qualify for and compete in the Euros. Look at the wonders the US’ good showing in the Confederations Cup did for the USMNT’s 2010 World Cup.

        Case in point, Spain. attractive also-rans until 2006 when they went all in for tiki taka, they won Euro 2008 two years later, won the World Cup in 2010 and then won Euro 2012.

        They had a core group from two clubs Barca and Real Madrid and managed to put together a six year run, competing every two years for a trophy. It’s almost like having a real club team.

        The US on the other hand, no matter how good a core group they assemble, typically get one World Cup out of them and then have to spend the next four years rebuilding the team without the benefit of real competition to test themselves.

        My hope is the US either finds a way to amp up the Gold Cup or finds a way to participate in Copa America.

      • Don’t you understand that our country is different from most. We have a military that spans the globe. Thus our country extends INTO many different countries, vicariously through our military.

        A kid with American Parents that grows up in Germany , playing with Germans and quite possibly other nationalities by the way, is no less an American than you are. I am a missionary living in the Dominican Republic. I spent the first 46 years of my life in the US. My father served in the Air Force and then Defense department for 29 years. But my kids will grow up here in the DR. While that does make them more “Dominican” culturaly, I don’t believe it makes them less “American”.

        I don’t care where he was trained, if he is better, he is better! Play the better player. If his language is Martian, his hair pink, and his skin purple. If he has an American passport, and he is better. PLAY HIM. The fact that we would play “our real Americans” if they are inferior (NOTICE IF), just because they grew up here, THAT would hurt our development. It would create entitlement issues within the program.

        Just my two cents. Thanks for the opportunity to share Ives.

      • Thanks for sharing but you chose for your children to grow up outside of the US. There’s a reason the US government grants children born here automatic citizenship and makes those that aren’t apply

      • Actually, as long as you satisfy the requisite conditions, then you receive automatic citizenship from birth. What you must apply for, assuming you are raised abroad, is a US passport.

      • chris,

        If Byrdman and his wife are American citizens and have a child outside of the US that child is an American citizen. The US government grants automatic citizenship to their child .

        The difference is the child does have to apply as soon as possible for proper documentation of the birth and the parent’s status but this is largely a necessary formality.

        These documents serve the same function as a native born person’s birth certificate when applying for a passport.

        Your implication that such citizens are somehow less than native born ones is inaccurate.
        The only difference is that the child cannot currently run for the Presidency.

      • “Don’t you understand that our country is different from most. We have a military that spans the globe. Thus our country extends INTO many different countries, ”

        Italy and Germany also extend INTO many different countries:

        A kid with Italian Parents that grows up in the US, playing with Americans and quite possibly other nationalities by the way, is no less an Italian than Silvio Berlusconi.

        A kid with German Parents that grows up in the United States, playing with Americans and quite possibly other nationalities by the way, is no less a German than Angela Merkel.

      • Ironically, Germany is one of those few nations. Their current season squad is loaded with talent that could rep other countries like Ghana (Boateng), Poland (Klose, Podolski), Turkey (Gotze, Ozil, Khedira, Gundogan), brazil (Cacao), Spain (Gomez), and England (Hotby). Those are just off the top of my head, Granted most of these guys were raised in Germany but we are a similar “melting pot” nation. I agree 100% dual nationals will always be apart of the US set-up. I have zero problem with it as long as the player has a real love for the nation and stands by the Stars and Stripes.

      • yes you guys arent getting it. Most of the German dual nationals were products of the German system. I said nothing against dual nationals. In fact Shane ONeill is a dual national and I would rather see him getting that valuable U20 experience over Brooks. Again how can our coaches ever develop players that can ultimately compete with the best in the world at the senior international level, if our domestically produced players arent getting that experience as a U20?

      • The U-20 experience while great is a small sample size of development. Just go back and look at previous U-20 rosters for the US and other nationals. Tons of talent phased out after that tournament. It’s not the be-all. I’m more imterested in seeing players day-in, day-out at their respective clubs. A guy like Shane O’Neil, whom I watch every week as a Rapids STH, is gaining valueable experience training and playing professional matches. That stregthens his development more than a 3-week tournament. With that said, the tournament is helpful but too much emphasis is placed on that expereince. As MLS grows and becomes stronger these young players will be facing tougher opponents domestically and in the CONCACAF Champions League (assuming it grows).

      • The national teams at all levels select a team from the greatest talent our citizens have to offer, it is not up to them to handicap our developmental system. Just as in any position in this country, the best person for the job should fill the position, independent of race, religion or cultural background. In this case, US citizenship and outstanding soccer skills fit the job requirements. I’m pretty sure growing up on a steady diet of Big Macs, bad television and video games or speaking perfect, “America English” do not.

        There is zero proof that requiring players to be cultural clones translates to a better team on the field. The best soccer in the world BY FAR is played by club teams comprised of players from all kinds of backgrounds, languages, citizenry. Having players from every imaginable background is a pretty good representation of our country more than any other anyhow.

      • Are you proposing an Under 20- Affirmative action program for “real Americans”?

        I’d love to see the criteria for that.

      • shane,

        Those Under 20’s get better by playing against better players and by competing with them for playing time. If the foreign born kids are better they will play over the native born.

        That is how it should be. This is a brutal business. Presumably these foreign born kids will go on to play for the USMNT so there is no problem there.

        The problem is in a system that does not produce kids capable of competing with the foreign born kids for Under 20 places. That system needs to be fixed.

        You have been hanging around too many soccer moms with their everybody must play ethic. In the real world it is dog eat dog.You do these kids and the USMNT no favors by removing the competition provided by the foreign born kids with some kind of affirmative action and artificially inflating your boys sense of their soccer ability. They will be found out as soon as they move another level up.

        The Under 20’s are not the only forum for a young player to get better. If they want to bad enough they can go abroad like JOB, Pelosi, lLetget, or Rossi did. Some will fail but some will succeed and will be better for it.

      • Khedira is Tunisian, not Turkish. I’m also pretty sure Gotze is 100% German, but maybe i’m wrong on that one.

      • Gotze is German. I meant to say Neustädter who was born in Ukraine while his father, a native of Kazakhstan, played there.

      • With all due respect, Mike V., your argument is pretty weak. Of all the players you mentioned, only Cacau was born abroad and raised into adulthood and had to wrangle a German passport to get access to the German national team. Podolski moved to Germany when he was 2 years old and Klose when he was 8 and both of them speak German like natives. All the other players you mentioned were born and raised in Germany and are totally at home in the German language and culture. So cannot really compare their situation with, say, someone like Timmy Chandler who joined the USMNT before he ever visited the US.

      • There are many countries with dual nationals and cross over players. Brazil/Portugal and Italy/Argentina just to name two.

        People need to get over this. Do you think English fans would have questioned if Ryan Giggs chose England over Wales?

      • Shane…

        Italy, a soccer power had no issues accepting American-born Giusseppe Rossi from the US.
        Just like Rossi, there are a few dual-nationals born in the US who at the moment are playing in other countries… follow the U-17 mens team playing in Panama at this moment….

        if there is an American-born “Pele”growing up and playing in Brazil, why not snatch him up?

      • You view it as a stop gap, I view it as a huge advantage. If you have American blood in you, you are American and if you want to play for the Yanks (as long as your a citizen) it’s your right to do so. It’s not like there are only a couple of players tha will be able to do this now and in ten years there will be no more dual nationals. EVERYONE get this through your heads, dual nationals DO NOT hurt the devolpement of soccer in America, THEY HELP IT. Every single dual national helps add depth and talent to our player pool, and most importantly they are raising the bar for our players that learn the game here. Any view otherwise is biased.

      • can’t disagree more….seeing AMERICA advance in the WC and level of play is more important for exposure and inspiration than any individual player…it’s the same argument about not allowing older foreign players into the MLS…they raise the level of play and make us better…don’t let arrogance or national pride take away from an opportunity to learn and improve

    • Im not saying German Americans have a bad attitude, im just saying that as a national team, we dont need to be anyones back up plans, unless someone is fully committed to America then they dont deserve to wear the jersey

      Reply
      • Who are we to judge who is/isn’t committed to America? As long as their outward manifestations indicate that they want to play for us then that should be all there is to it.

      • Do you mean like that huge desire Timothy Chandler has shown every day since the first time Bob Bradley invited him to camp? And that great chemistry we saw between Timmy and the other guys during the Honduras WCQ game?

      • I don’t think it’s fair to say he isn’t comitted because he played poorly in a game everyone played poorly. He is stuck with us for good now(and uswith him). I’m sure Timmy is not stupid, if he wasn’t all in he would have never accepted the call up, not accept a call up, start and sabatoge the match that would be a waste of his and our time.

      • the tactics, formation and refusal of the coaches to adapt & tweak tactics – when it obviously wasn’t working – was the greatest failure in that game…more so than any players shortcomings…I was more disappointed in what appeared to be the team ‘giving up’

    • I think it boils down to “If Germany wants him” if that is the case…case closed. Is he a lock to be chosen for the U21? Did he go to a Germany friendly and didn’t get to play?

      I wish us luck.

      Reply
  35. Glad to see he is making the decision, but he really doesn’t have to! He should stay with either nation’s youth setup until 2015, when he is 22 years old and more than ready for International football.

    I hope he decides to play vs. Spain, France, Ghana and so on with the very exciting USA U-20’s and if he likes what he sees stays with the USA. I wouldn’t rush him into the WC2014 roster but I would expect him to be in contention with Besler, Gonzalez, Cameron and others for the 2018WC run.

    As with many of these dual nationals; the USA absolutely needs you and you have a very good shot at playing in multiple world cups if you choose us!

    Reply
    • Well, if he plays in an official youth competition (Uxx Euros or WC/WCQ) then he committed to that country until he makes a switch (either at youth or senior) which ties him to the new country. He’ll have to chose eventually, even if that means opting out of invitations.

      Reply
  36. Well atleast this will be laid to rest. Best of luck to Brooks on HIS desicion, no matter his pick! But I’ll be really pumped if he picks U.S.

    Reply
  37. I seriously doubt we’ll get him. My guess is it depends how hard Germany pursues him. If they really want him, I bet they get him. I’ll be hoping I’m wrong. One thing to keep in mind is one player doesn’t make or break a team….any team.

    Reply
    • It would be a boon to the US team to have him, but if germany gets him, it wont be like losing Giuseppe or something. He is much more german than american.

      Reply
    • Well, the US advantage is he hasn’t ever played with the German U21 squad, so there’s no guarantee he would even be selected. I’m guessing he’ll take the US path, go to Turkey and then see what happens after that. A bird in the hand, after all…

      Reply
      • If Germany rates him, though, they could call him in just to let him know that he’s in their plans.

        He might want to take a lesson from Jermaine Jones, though, who later fell out of Germany’s plans.

      • He wasn’t selected for the german U21 before, because he was only eligible to play for the german U19 squad.

        The important ones are U17, U18, U19 and U21

    • Where does he fit in the depth chart of the Germany U-21 team?

      Obviously 90% a different situation, but the progression from B2 to B1 and the timing of the U20 WC reminds me of Subotic.

      Reply
    • This is where I hope that it is beneficial to have one of Germany’s best ever players and top figures as our coach. Hopefully he can convince them that we need him more.

      Reply
    • Maybe if he chooses us Klinsi will fly him in for a 1 minute appearance in a WC Qualifier or Gold Cup game. Then the choice is final!

      Reply
    • He has to make a decision because he can only play in one of the tournaments this summer. I don’t think he’s saying that this will be his ‘final’ decision but this decision will determine where he will focus his interests this summer.

      Reply
    • Would the World U20s commit him? Or is it only senior A play? That being said, while he might not be legally bound, it would be morally laudable to put it to bed. “I am x,” no games involved. The sort of on the record commitment people were projecting onto Chandler. I grant your point, a youth worlds or regional championship might not commit him still. But he sounds like someone preparing to commit himself anyway.

      I understand the normal progression is we offer U20 and see what he does, but with our CB situation if he’s any good Gold Cup might be worth the effort, and it might be a mutual enticement, we’ll skip you on up to the senior pool in exchange for commitment. I know the World U20s sounds nice but if Germany is offering Euro U21 then we may need to up the ante to secure the player, because German progression will be its own formidable attraction.

      FWIW, nothing about our backline depth or quality screams, take your time. Right now all he has to be is better than Goodson or the like for the bench, and it wouldn’t take much to start.

      Reply
      • Choosing either would ‘commit’ him, but not cap tie him to either. He can only play in one tournament or the other this summer. Let’s say he chooses Germany and the U21 Euros. After that, he can still switch to the USA but must file all the paperwork with FIFA for that one time right (like Edgar Castillo).

      • Disagree about Goodson, who is still a valuable sub, proving his worth against the Ticos just last week.

      • I think the Snow Day disguised the fact he’s generally overmatched at this level of play.

    • @ tom G

      Since this is a FIFA tournament, it locks him down to the US at the youth level and he could never feature for germany at another youth level game. He also cant participate for germany in any higher levels such as a friendly unless he files for a 1 time switch

      Reply
  38. I am honestly just glad to hear we are being heavily considered. All we can do it cross our fingers and speculate.If he does choose us and plays in the U-20 WC, do we anticipate seeing him again soon? Does he have time to become a Brazil backup?

    Reply
      • In his defense, I’ve never heard of the guy either. Admittedly, I don’t pay attention to the up and coming yanks abroad as much as some of the die hards on this site do.

      • Ok what gives with Brook’s height? This article is listing him at 6’4 when I have read that he has had a huge growth spurt and was 6’6 pushing 6’7 in articles (I have also read ones like this that sa y he is 6’4)

      • Or he’s not an obsessive prospect internet miner. Because anyone else wouldn’t have heard of him yet.

      • Brilliant, insult others for being well informed by calling them obsessive while making excuses for your own ignorance. It’s not like America just heard of Brooks, he has played with our youth team before. It’s like this, if you are a casual fan who sees they are on TV and you turn it on, you wouldn’t know him but if you follow the team and the players on it you would know who he is or at least heard of him. %75+ of the USMNT fans or “internet miners” who frequent this site have heard of him. You being in the minority doesn’t make you a bad fan it just means you aren’t as well informed

      • …how else would you like us to describe our fanbase?(“We”) Or the team? Or the group of people who want our national team to do well? Which is a combination of both? (“Us”). Your point would be valid if people from other countries didn’t do the same, but they do.

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