Italy was just in the Euro final, and won the 06' WC where is the decline? Obviously they are at the end of a cycle but you see that with every team, eventually you have to bring in inexperienced hungrier players.
Do I think Altidore has the talent to play on the Italian national team, yes. Do I think he has proven worthy at this point in his career? No. He's had one great season in an average league.
Juventus vs LAG was an example of a friendly being meaningless. The disparity between those teams in terms talent is HUGE yet LAG won the game 3-1... Does that make sense?
Friendlies are like preseason games in American football. Good for chemistry building and cohesion, meaningless because the emphasis is placed not on winning but on executing properly and trying out fringe squad members.
Look I love what the USA is doing, but lets not crown them before they've beaten a single top tier team in a meaningful game. MLS is evolving rapidly and I think with players like Julian Green and John Brooks coming up that we can be in the Italy, England, France discussion soon but we are not there yet.
Do I think Altidore has the talent to play on the Italian national team, yes. Do I think he has proven worthy at this point in his career? No. He's had one great season in an average league.
Juventus vs LAG was an example of a friendly being meaningless. The disparity between those teams in terms talent is HUGE yet LAG won the game 3-1... Does that make sense?
Friendlies are like preseason games in American football. Good for chemistry building and cohesion, meaningless because the emphasis is placed not on winning but on executing properly and trying out fringe squad members.
Look I love what the USA is doing, but lets not crown them before they've beaten a single top tier team in a meaningful game. MLS is evolving rapidly and I think with players like Julian Green and John Brooks coming up that we can be in the Italy, England, France discussion soon but we are not there yet.