By ADAM SERRANO
The chase for Club Tijuana forward Joe Benny Corona just got a bit more interesting.
Corona has been called up by Mexico's Under-22 side for a pair of matches against Chile's Under-22s. Corona is joined on the roster by another California native, Chivas de Guadalajara left back Miguel Angel Ponce.
Corona has two goals in the Apertura for the Xoloitzcuintles (or Xolos) in their first season since being promoted into the Mexican Primera Division. Corona's rising star began during the Xolos drive for promotion, with Corona even scoring the goal that decided Club Tijuana's promotion playoff. In addition to his ability to represent Mexico and the U.S., Corona is also eligible to represent El Salvador, his mother's birth nation.
In a recent ESPN profile of Corona, Corona stated that he had been on former U.S. national team Bob Bradley's preliminary roster for the Aug. 10 friendly against Mexico but didn't end up making the final roster after Bradley's firing. During his conversation with ESPN, Corona admitted that he has been in contact with the current regime under Jurgen Klinsmann, who sent a scout to watch him in a recent match against Puebla.
What do you think of this development? Confident Corona will wind up with the U.S. national team? Think Mexico is seriously interested, or just trying to keep him from the USMNT?
Share your thoughts below.
“This is beyond stupid.”
I completely agree. If by “this” you mean “My comment”
Perhaps if Mexican Americans were made to feel more welcomed in the U.S. (rather than being scapegoated for many social and economic problems not of their making), the issue of split loyalties wouldn’t be as great as it is.
Your disparaging inference that Mexican American players like Torres, Castillo, Gomez, and Orozco are “left overs” is tinged with an element of racism. Or, can we also refer to Holden, Kljestan, Parkhurst, Lichaj, and any other 2nd or 3rd generation WHITE American player as “left overs” (code for “reject?”) for their respective ancestral countries?
I will take gatt over this overhyped guy. I have seen him play and he doesnt add creativity or something that we lack.
We can find better players in the US if we search hard enough.
After all the talk of Mexico’s youth development (and rightly so) it is interesting that Corona was developed within the normal channels of American soccer, if outside the youth national team set up. He played club and high school in San Diego then college for a year.
What’s the big deal? We have plenty of talent here and abroad.
Bocanegra’s father is Mexican, but Los from what I know was never contacted nor ever considered playing for Mexico.
Pure class!
Thanks Tyrone.
Maybe Ben should have actually READ my post…
I didn’t say strip him of his US citizenship. I SAID (basically) let’s give priority to those who’s desire to play for the USA is clear and not ‘naturally conflicted’. That was a pretty dumb reply…
was Boca a leftover? I always thought he considered himself American through and through.
Fun fact: Bocanegra has done underwear modeling before.
Mike Farfan > Corona
you are a prophet.
There may have been the slightest hint of cynicism there… you may have missed that bit.
Typical American. 😉
+1
Wow, if you thought Joe B. NYC’s comment was stupid, look in the mirror and read your own comment. Way to not overreact.
Damn I can’t believe Klisny let him slip away, with all his talk of Mexicanizing the US team, he sure hasn’t brought anyone new.
Either way there’s still a chance, I don’t see him cracking Mexico’s senior team, hill probably end up a left over like his buddies: Torres, Orozco, Bocanegra, Castillo, and Gomez.
either friendly rof senior team
There is no U-22 it’s U-23 my friend SBI!
(SBI-Some countries call their teams U-22, which it technically is since THIS YEAR they need to be U-22 to be U-23 NEXT YEAR when it matters that they are a U-23. Does that make sense to you? Calling a team a U-23 team TODAY is misleading because someone who’s 23 this year can’t play on the Olympic team next year. So the truth is, any pre-Olympic team can be called U-22 in 2011.)
Hopefully I’m not the only one that sees Delarge’s statement as tongue-in-cheek humor.
Yes, not only that, but lets have a patriotism test as well. Nor must we stop there, but I think it is time excommunicate all US fans who choose to root for second or third teams depending on their cultural heritage, traitors. You either want to root for the US or not. ‘Merica, f’yeah. Red, White, and Blue or else we will stick a boot up your @ss!
As if a kid from a variety of cultures who grew up in two different countries wouldn’t be naturally conflicted. This is beyond stupid.
like Cam Newton. If Corona had stayed at San Diego State, he had Heisman written all over him!!!
According to Jorge Ramos he said he was playing for Mexico just a bit ago. Who knows.
Yea, I think it just makes him take a side. Cap tied or not, when you are in your 20’s and playing for a national side it’s not easy to switch out. Outside of the technicalities, its a very bold move. Especially bc there are never any guarantees in regards to how long you’ll have a spot on the roster.
Eh. He will probably end up with them, but you never know. I won’t get heartbroken for losing an unproven player, even though he is playing well and has a lot of potential.
If I complained about this then I would have to complain about Mixx and Chandler too. Self-identity and cultural ties are probably more important than citizenship anyways and if he feels more Mexican than American than he is making the right choice.
DAMN YOU BOB BRADLEY THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN CALLED TO THE GOLD CUP DUH HOW COULD YOU NOT KNOW THAT!!! FIRE HIM AGAIN I SAY!!!…
Do men not get married?
Agree with you, let the cholos go!
dude, you’re gonna get beat up for that one.
That’s true, Klinsy has been know to target Mexicans that have already played for the US. The man is a genius…
You guys do realize how this works, right? If we call him in, he’ll turn out to be an overhyped dud. If we don’t he’ll tear up the FMF and get sold to Bayern or Liverpool and become a UEFA CL warhorse. It’s just how the goddamned galaxy works!!!
Corona must know he could benefit more in regards to potential playing time if he chose us. But then again, he can make the choice that he feels suits him best. People make emotional decisions all the time over logical ones.
Just look at women.
There has got to be enough talent in MLS for Klinsmann to choose from. As much as I’m into getting more Mexican-American players on the team. My opinion is if you accept a call to Mexico (even if it won’t get you cap tied), you’re not that interested in repping the USA. This sounds like another Hoyos (Argentinian-American) situation to me. I feel the same way about the Chandler situation (yes, I know it’s slightly different), but either you want to play for the US or you don’t. Get Convey back on the scene for left-back. I’m getting so tired of this crap…
He’ll play for Mexico guaranteed, Mexico has shown too much power and we are rebuilding from scratch, Besides we can enjoy the cast-offs and make a real team and win…..MLS has some exciting young players already within 16 years of existence.
FIRE KLINSMANN!!!
Does anyone know if this callup means he HAS agreed to turn out for them? Or just that they put his name on a list so that if he doesn’t show up, it looks like he’s AWOL.
Shutup
i believe it would mean he would have to make his one time switch to play for the US
He is a good player, not flashy but one we need. He has the ability to calm a game down while still being an attack minded player. he would be a great addition to our roster immediately and IMO would make the 23 man roster almost every time.
But U22 doesn’t tie you to the national team, so I don’t think that’s why FMF would call him up. It doesn’t bind him, right?
agreed
or can him
Where are our U-23 friendly games? That’s the question?
like Cam from Modern Family?
or cap him
cam ’em
Spot on. And to call him up to their youth national team, no less, while knowing full well he’d get called up to the other country’s FULL side? Almost smacks of indifference.
i kind of have to agree with this.
You have to think that was a calculated move by the Mexican federation being as though they know Klinsmann is announcing a roster soon and he has been targeting Mexicans with dual citizenship.
Wait…Bob Bradley knew who this guys was and was going to cap him but even with that info Klinsmann didn’t and now the US might lose him to Mexico???… Let’s start it now…fire Klinsi! If he can’t judge talent better than Bob Bradley we are in big big trouble…right?
Hopefully, he accepts a (potential) call-up to our FIRST team.