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U.S. Soccer: Subotic will play for Serbia

Neven Subotic (ISIphotos.com) 

                                                                                    Photo by ISIphotos.com

At this time of year, you can usually expect your share of Christmas and other holiday cards in your mailbox. U.S. Soccer received a correspondence that was neither cheery or good news. On Dec. 22, the USSF received a letter from Neven Subotic informing U.S. Soccer that he will be playing for the Serbian national team, U.S. Soccer spokesman Neil Buethe confirmed to SBI on Wednesday.

Thus ends U.S. Soccer's hopes to land Subotic, who went from Bosnian immigrant and unknown soccer player to U.S. youth national team player to European star, and now to Serbian national team player. a fringe U.S. youth player just three years ago, Subotic has rapidly risen to become one of the best young defenders in European soccer, starring for Borussia Dortmund in the German Bundesliga at the age of 20.

"We wish Neven all the best and success in the future," U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati said.

Subotic played in four matches with the U.S. Under-17 national team at the 2005 Under-17 World Cup, earning a red card in a round of 16 loss to the Netherlands. He made a total of 12 appearances with the U.S. Under-17 national team, starting five matches. He scored one goal, in his first appearance, against Australia in the 2004 Nike Friendlies.

Subotic played two matches with the U.S. Under-20 national team, but was left off the roster for the 2007 Under-20 World Cup. He never represented the U.S. national team again.

Subotic's decision will be a tough one to take for U.S. national team fans, particularly after comments made by Subotic in this interview with U.S. Soccer in 2006.

The above photo is the best one I could find of Subotic in a U.S. national team uniform. Feel free to print it out and tape it to your dartboard.

In all seriousness, Subotic, a native of Bosnia, will now play for the nation of his father's birth, which just happens to boast one of the most talented young teams in Europe, a national team currently leading a World Cup qualifying group that includes France.

It won't be easy news to take, but American fans should also remember that the U.S. national team has benefited from foreign-born players who chose the United States over their native countries, such as Roy Wegerle, Earnie Stewart, Thomas Dooley, Freddy Adu and Stuart Holden. It probably doesn't help that three players who theoretically could have wound up playing for the United States (Subotic, Giuseppe Rossi and Vedad Ibisevic) happen to be three of the hottest young prospects in Europe.

What do you think about this unfortunate news? Think Subotic is making a mistake? Are you not surprised that he chose Serbia? Are you just glad it's finally over so we can move on? Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. i will name all serbian forward that are better than josie altidore 1. pantelic 2. kezman 3. milosevic 4. koroman 5. darko pancev 4. prosnenski

  2. “Let me reiterate that Serbia has possibly the most exciting talent pool in Europe. The US, as always, is competent but average (and yes, even the “great” Jozy Altidore will end up a decent player but NOTHING more… where are the sots that were comparing him to Benzema now?). I would take my chances with Serbia instead of settling for three-and-out World Cups.

    Posted by: Tim | December 24, 2008 at 03:09 PM ”

    Serbia went three and out w/o any points (the US got a point against the world champs)at the last world cup 2 goals 10 against. Didnt even qualify in 2002. US quaterfinalists(unlucky vs germany)Altidore is much better than any serbian fwd you really have to be kidding. Would not mind facing serbia in a world cup at all.

  3. Luis made a bunch of points I agree with. (Except for Subotic being a money grabber — I know nothing about NS’s motivations for anything, much less other players with immigrant roots.)

    Anyhow, we didn’t get Subotic, so let’s move on. We have a deeper pool of players than ever and let’s take our chances with them.

    Nothing was worse than trolling Bundesliga II looking for German players with American fathers. (e.g., David Wagner, Michael and Marco Mason.) We’ve come a long way in ten years.

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