Behold the Traitor, Giuseppe Rossi
Image by AFP/Getty Images via Daylife
The New York Times details the case of Giuseppe Rossi, who has chosen to BETRAY THE MOTHERLAND—I mean, play international soccer for Italy rather than the country of his birth. It seems likely that Rossi will see the field for gli Azzurri when the defending world champions step out against the United States in next week’s Confederations Cup.
Okay, okay, okay. The rational part of my being (which is to say, the subsection that appreciates soccer for its finer aesthetic, athletic and cultural qualities, and holds all kinds of trendy liberal opinions about the irrelevance of nationality in this post-everything age) understands that this happens all the time. And as a partisan, I wouldn’t want Jozy Altidore to waste his time playing for Haiti, for example. Fortunately fandom does not entail rational, fair-minded or consistent thought. I am free to hope that several American players avail themselves of the opportunity to commit bookable offenses against this unfaithful little squib. FORWARD!
Post Your Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment
T/S Members
Log in with your True/Slant account.
I never thought I’d say this, but I almost wish that Frankie Hejduk and Pablo Mastroeni were in the lineup for this match.
I couldn’t agree more. I sincerely hope he gets harassed mercilessly. I also would probably cheer if someone went studs up on him. I also don’t understand why soccer turns me into a stereotypical jingoistic monster.
The Altidore situation is much different. He probably would’ve wanted to come to the US, even if it was just for college. Let’s be honest, in quality of life, typically US > Haiti. But to turn your back on Ol’ Glory to be a front-runner for a superior Italy side is nearing treason. Can we revoke his citizenship?
You’d figure Michael Bradley for a likely suspect, but supposedly he and Rossi are “friends.”
[...] fact, even prior to the match between the US and Italy last Wednesday, critiques were already harsh on the [...]
[...] also have much against them. Silvio Berlusconi. That ugly catenaccio lock-down style. The traitor Giuseppe Rossi. I want to hate them. But I just can’t—perhaps because I know they don’t particularly [...]