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Subotic, again? Jeez, Okay this kid cannot play for Germany. Fine. Watch him pick Serbia, now instead of the US even though everyone here wants to see him with the US.

Yeah...this is getting old.

All I can say is he should pay attention to what happened to Rossi.
Italy got him cap committed when he was substituted in...the next game during international break - did not see one minute of action. And that could be a frequent occurence...Rossi on the Italy bench, not seeing playing time.

Best advice to Subotic is go with where he thinks he can get 90 minutes of international action.
Is that with the US? Quite possible.

at least its a new part of a story, rather then the Beckham to AC on loan story twice in 2 days :-/

the only way Subotic will play for the US is if he feels he stands a better chance of getting PT with the US....

zizou- this was my big thing with Rossi.... i can understand his wanting to play for Italy, but he's jumping into a national team pool that is over-flowing with talent..... if he were to play for the US, not only would he have gotten multiple WC appearances, he definately would have been a star....

honestly, now Rossi is just more depth...

also this title seems a bit misleading...

technically speaking Subotic has shown no interest in any nation, especially not the US... so the fact that he's still open merely points out that we are still a contender to get his services, if he chooses us that is... he hasnt stated he's "still open" for US call

Rossi is 21. He will get loads of playing time with Italy over the next twelve years. Honestly, the chances of him being a starter on a team that wins a World Cup is much higher playing for Italy then for the U.S. When Toni retires from international soccer after the 2010 World Cup, Italy will have a bunch of talented forwards ready to step up. So less playing time at the international level over the next two or four years, but loads more playing time at a competitive level after that.

Sadly I still don't see him picking the US, mostly because he plays, lives, and grew up in Europe. Not to mention his hottie GF is also German. It would be nice to have him on the US team but I still don't see it happening. But then on a side note you have this clown from the US Soccer Federation Sunil Gulati, saying "The situation where we have players eligible for more than one country clouds the central issue, which is whether they're good enough for our national team" WHAT?!?! what team and what players are you watching guy? This kid is quality and I'm pretty sure the US is NOT in a position to be that picky, in particular thanks to the complete lack of a youth farming system here or in MLS. Shut up and get it together before you make ignorant comments like that Mr. Gulati!

Forbes - I hear what you're saying...but when it comes to Italian soccer...there are a couple of things that hurt Rossi. The first is he's not playing in Serie A. The Italian federation has always favored players plying their trade in Serie A. The second is Rossi isn't Italian in the sense he was born & raised in the homeland.

I hear what you are saying but over the next couple of years there could be someone that is younger, coming up the ranks of third / second divisions in Italy to Serie A...and guess what...all of a sudden - THAT player is #1 on the depth chart of forwards.

Rossi is too good for the US. He plays well ahead of Altidore, a budding US regular, at Villareal while only being a few years older, how could anyone claim that Rossi choosing the US over Italy would have been a better decision? Either wait a few years and become a regular on one of the best teams in the world by putting in your time, working hard, learning the system, and succeeding at the club level (re: doing it the right way), or become an immediate starter for a team that will never be that good in the span of your career, becoming a b-list star in a country that puts soccer behind football, basketball, baseball, hockey, golf, nascar, and the list goes on.

He made the right decision.

Additionally...if you think I'm just making that stuff up about Serie A bias & being "Italian" - read the book "Winning at All Costs: A Scandalous History of Italian Soccer"

Obviously there are always some exceptions to the rule...Camrenosi (spl?)...don't get me wrong, I honestly could care less that Rossi went with Italy, yeah it was a blow to the USMNT but Rossi demanded that he be part of the 2006 WC roster in order to commit to the US...at a time when he had yet to prove himself.

Its his choice. He was born in the Balkans but left as a child. Spent his adolescence here in the US. The choice is his, and like everybody, I hope he picks USA. Imagine how a Subotic-Orozco center defense could develop?

Did it occur to anyone else that Italy may have called up Rossi just to prevent him from ever playing for the US? They may have it firmly in their head that he'll never contribute to the national team, but by preventing him from playing for any other country, forever, they make themselves just a little bit better. Italy was just hedging a bet that he might get really good. If he does, they have him locked up now. If they hadn't, and he did get really good, then it could have come back to bite them.

This is encouraging news for the usa. It look like its down to Serbia and the Usa. I would relish the opportunity to see a Gooch, Subotic pairing. I believe both will become world class defenders very soon. Not many countries can say that they have two central defenders that our both world class. If he chooses the US then 2014 will be our coming out party. we will have some serious talent to challange the world.

Rossi is a TURNCOAT!

Zizou is right about the Italian teams being loaded with Italian-based players. The 2006 World Cup team (if I remember correctly) had most, if not all their players playing in Italy.

FIFA needs to change eligibility rules. If a player is to commit to a country, it should be the one he was born in. That is, unless, of course his parents were on vacation or is a military brat, if which case he would be committed to wherever his parents were citizens of at the time of birth. Hargreaves would play for Canada, Adu - Ghana, Rossi - US, Subotic - One of the former Yugoslav nations.

Trybble1 - excellent point you made. Yes, it is possible Italy did that to prevent him from playing for another country. Brazil did that a few years ago with a group of 3-4 players...none of which contribute now to their national team.

As far as Subotic goes...if he wants to play for the US, great...if not - we got other guys that could step in. Guys like Jay DeMerit...Orozco...Jonathon Spector (if he ever stays healthy), etc...unfortunately or fortunately Gooch & Bocanegra are the set centerbacks...other guys have to evolve around those two because Bradley is set in his line-ups.

sargentroad & forbes- noone is attacking rossi for his decision here (well seachicken is).... we are simply pointing out that he chose a side that will be TOUGHER to crack...

does he stand a better chance winning a WC with Italy?? yes, but that requires him to make the team....

with the US he would have had chances left and right at WC appearances and success.... but he wouldnt have been surrounded with nearly the quality in talent....

in the end, he stuck to his guns and went with his heart.... it would have been nice to have him, but just like subotic, there will always be the "next" talent showing up... our youth is littered with talent... whether they pan out is another subject all around, but we will always have the "next" big thing popping up, and we are bound to lose a couple of them to Duel nationalities..

In FIFA 09 Subotic plays for the US. So, obviously FIFA and Subotic have informed EA Sports of his decision...

lol

He'll go to Serbia.

I wish he'd play for America, but I really don't think he has any heart in the prospect of playing for the US. And although I regret that as a US soccer fan, I also don't want players on our national team that don't truly feel pride in representing their country.

1. Rossi will get very little PT in the next 10 years with Italy. His decision (while I respect it, was the tougher road if he wanted PT).
2. Rossi would have started immediatly at ST for the US. He would have played every game if he wanted to. Italy may win another WC but Rossi will not be in the starting 11. He may not even play. Too much talent in Italy.
3. Subotic would start every game with Gooch in the CB spot if he said yes today. He would also start asap for serbia or bosnia. Bradley would have to relent on this and move Boca to LB or RB, or even CDM, where frankly he would be better anyhow.
4. Orozco is still developing, as is Spector, so we'll see. Right now, they aren't much competition to Subotic. If you have seen him play this year, you would clearly know why Subotic choosing the US would be such a BIG deal.
5. You know I had to get in on this conversation. Couldn't help myself.
4. Subotic has not ruled out the USA.
5.

Why wouldnt he pick Serbia over the US, look at the competition involved in their qualifiers compared to ours...