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An in-depth look at Jose Francisco Torres (in Spanish)

Jose Francisco Torres 2 (ISIphotos.com) 

Photo by ISIphotos.com

Photo by ISIphotos.com

Photo by ISIphotos.com

If you always wanted to know more about Jose Francisco Torres, but never knew much, the folks at ESPN Deportes put together a comprehensive profile on the U.S. national team and Pachuca midfielder.

The program is in Spanish, so apologies to those of you who don't know the language, but for those of you who do know Spanish, the profile is an in-depth look into a young player with a bright future:

What did you think of the profile? Are you an even bigger fan of Torres now? Can you see him making the move to La Liga one day?

Share your thoughts below (and feel free to translate any of the better parts below for our Spanish-deficient readers).

Comments

  1. How about Sven?? He said he could hold his own speaking Spanish. Maybe we could get Nery Castillo in some sort of a package deal.

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  2. 1.Donovan

    2.Dempsey

    3.Feilhaber-Torres

    4.Davies

    I think Feilhaber is a bit more dynamic with his dribbling and looks to get past players, while Torres is all about keeping the ball with his control and skill and helping boost his teams possession statistic.

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  3. Two observations:

    1. I have no idea what his girlfriend said. And i don’t think it matters.

    His girlfriend is en fuego.

    2. I had more trouble understanding the locals from Longview than i did the Mexicans.

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  4. Excellent documentary and I would love to see the others on the Mexican players and see it expanded to include the US players. Torres went through a lot as a kid starting in Pachuca’s youth system. I remember my cousins always making fun of me for being born in the US and not being “Mexican” enough, and I am sure that the kids competing with him for the first team were much worse. I also remember reading about how Torres chose the US, and the Mexican press was mad, not at Torres, but at the FMF for not selecting him earlier. He definitely had a chance to make the Mexican team, and at the very least should have been capped over most of the players he had. I really think he had a similar playing situation in Mexican and the US: not a starter but definitely a guy who can come in off the bench and contribute.

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  5. Ok Bob u got Torres. Now its time to get Herculez Gomez.What does Gomez have to do get on the squad . . . get a twitter account?

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  6. And about Torres, after Donovan, I don’t think the USA has another player who is as skilled with the ball at his feet. Maybe Feilhaber but he is almost tied with Torres at best…

    I hope Torres becomes an important part of the USMNT if not for 2010 then for 2014…

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  7. With all the Spanish speaking young talent out there, and the fact the the demographics in the USA are changing where latinos are making up the largest minority group, I think it’s logical for USA Soccer to consider hiring a Spanish speaking USMNT soccer coach. It will probably happen someday…

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  8. Torres’s decision came down to should he take the US invite now, or wait for an invite from Mexico. I believe it was his dad that told him indirectly that an invite from Mexico may not come because of greater depth in their system.

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  9. Also interesting to note Aguirre’s comment that when he first noticed Torres and asked Pachuca about him, it was after Torres had already played for USA in the olympics. The story goes on to say that maybe Mexico should be looking more at younger US players to avoid missing others like Torres.

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  10. thats a very green decision of you, since they are also made from recycled plastic bottles. I think the general public Altidore jersey should have that haitian dude’s name, the one who scored the US goal against the redcoats in 1950. Plus, the sales of that jersey should to …yep, you guessed it…help rebuild haiti.

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  11. Thanks for the info. I had forgotten my spanish skills after touring Europe while looking for all my starters for the World Cup. After all, I already know everything necessary about the Mexican league. I don’t think that league could produce players for my side–although I do keep hearing the words ‘Gomez,’ ‘Castillo,’ and ‘Orozco’ being uttered by ignorant gringos.

    Viva the USA!

    Bob Bradley

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  12. exactly what I thought…something “transcendental”. Nice production though. La liga is out of his league…uh, and perhaps his girlfriend too…but hey, hooray for the little guy. That family sure seems to cry alot. That Kempes commentator dude has the funniest voice, like the spanish mike tyson.Oh, and I wouldnt let any fellow mexican, even if from mexico itself, call me “gringo”. El Indio Torres should be on teh field in S. africa

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  13. Agreed. Another example of how highly ESPN rates soccer. The sport will grow in the US despite ESPN, not because of the channel.

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  14. just watched the video. loved it! don’t even speak Spanish (Spanish 1-3 in high school is as much as i got). either way, still understood maybe 30% of it (including the English parts…lol). loved it either way, going to have a buddy translate the rest for me. haha

    BB – yes he does!

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  15. ESPN really dropped the ball here by not offering a translation (or at the very least subtitles) for the English speaking audience. Their supposed “increase” in soccer coverage leading up to the world cup has pretty much left their American audience on the side of the road. Terrible job ESPN.

    (SBI-This piece was done by ESPN’s Latin American version, so the original was always going to be in Spanish. That said, I’d be willing to bet ESPN’s American side will reproduce this piece in English for the World Cup.)

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  16. I don’t know Spanish but I still watched it all the way through. I remember hearing about this series a few months ago and had been holding out hope there would be a dubbed version…oh well, maybe someone with nothing else to do will put one together, hehe.

    Anyway, I really want one of those “Gringo” t-shirts his fan girl was wearing.

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  17. Ojalá q llegue a la liga y q desarrolle sus habilidades más en europa. Tiene bastante talento y me parece un muchacho humilde y bien portado. viva USA!

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  18. As long as the US National Team coach is a product of the US Soccer system, Torres will only be a situational player. Our system is to stay organized in defense, pack it in, and counter when the opportunity presents itself. Torres’ skill set is not optimal for this.

    I think Klinsmann would be a good candidate for the next World Cup cycle. He brings a different perspective with his international experience and also has an attacking mindset. To attack and apply pressure, you need a midfield that can possess and dictate, now that is something that Torres’ skill set is good for.

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  19. Ives,

    Thanks for bringing this Jose Francisco Torres to my attention. I had never heard of him before your post, but he sounds like a talented player. Would you mind emailing me a translation of the piece? I don’t speak Spanish—and it is a silly idea for a US head coach to know Spanish, since all the best players in the United States speak the nation’s national language, English.

    Unfortunately, I don’t think Torres has enough talent to make my World Cup squad. He is lacking the touch and tactical sense of Condor Casey, the passing ability of Sacha Kljestan, and the experience of Alejandro Bedoya. I will remember his name, thought; perhaps he can ride the bench for me in our next World Cup campaign.

    Thanks for updating me on this intriguing future prospect. While I agree with the Federation that Spanish-speaking players will play a minor role in the future of US soccer, it is always encouraging to see US players excelling, no matter how insignificant the league they play in.

    Bob Bradley

    PS–Did you see our Nike jerseys for the upcoming World Cup? They are great! I don’t think Nike has ever made a bad product. With Nike’s sashes on their chest, I will be happy to lead my squad (I call them the Miss Americas) to victory in South Africa.

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  20. This was a pretty good profile. The series is actually really good. They cover the journey for most of Mexican national team players up to now. Each of them half hour shows. It would be cool to see something like that for the US team. I’d watch it! If I’m watching the Mexican one, lord knows I’d watch the US version.

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  21. awesome documentary… really enjoyed it. the part where aguire talks about the first time he saw torres was really interesting.

    he said that he saw him play and was really impressed and asked who he was and why he was called “el gringo” because he looked mexican and then they explained his background and that he was an american. anyway that was really interesting; the Fire could use him in the center of our midfield right now.

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  22. Wish you took the time to offer notes on it or translate it or at the very least put the main points in… Some of us can’t understand Spanish well.

    Reply

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