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By DAN KARELL
Jurgen Klinsmann’s tenure as U.S. Men’s National Team manager was never going to be easy, but he’s hit some rocky slopes recently as his team train in Denver ahead of a crucial World Cup Qualifying match against Costa Rica on Friday.
First, the Sporting News reported about internal strife in the U.S. camp, with certain players sharing their displeasure at the current state of affairs. And now, in an interview that will appear in the April 1 edition of ESPN The Magazine, Former U.S. coach Bruce Arena has made his feelings known (note: subscription necessary) on what he considers someone who should play for the national team.
“Players on the national team should be — and this is my own feeling — they should be Americans,” Arena told ESPN the Magazine’s Doug McIntyre. “If they’re all born in other countries, I don’t think we can say we are making progress.”
One of the controversial quotes from the Sporting News article was about the perceived divide in the locker room, between the foreign-born players, specifically from Germany and those that grew up in the United States. This quote from Arena reaffirms that those issues do exist in one form or another within the American soccer community.
What do you think of this news? Do you believe Arena chose his words correctly?
Share your thoughts below.