The United States celebrates its 250th anniversary at a time when the men’s soccer team has a plausible shot at chasing an improbable World Cup title. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, defender Tim Ream compared the squad to the nation it represents.
“[W]e’ve said this as a group with all our different backgrounds, where we all have grown up, it’s a true representation of what America is,” Ream said, via Jeff Carlisle of ESPN.
The roster includes players born inside, and outside, of the country. Two of them — like Weston McKennie and Sergiño Dest — were born abroad as children of U.S. service members.
“It’s a melting pot of people, of personalities, of characters, and like I said, it’s a perfect representation of what the U.S. is and what it’s about,” Ream added.
We are different, but the same. Americans. But for those whose lineage traces to those who inhabited the land before Columbus arrived, we’re all immigrants. We all came from established cultures to a land that embraces all. (Despite the misguided opinions of some.)
The U.S. team is led by a man from Argentina, who’s doing his best to assimilate. On Friday night, Mauricio Pochettino threw the first pitch at the Mariners game — three days before the U.S. faces Belgium at Lumen Field for a spot in the quarterfinals.
“I think he’s obviously taken to the culture, and at the same time has added his bit of culture to us as well,” Ream said about the coach of the U.S. team. “So I think as he said after the first time here in Seattle, he felt something with the Country Roads being played and blasted through the stadium. So it’s just incredible.”
Maurico and the rest of the team have an open invitation to come to West Virginia and hang out in the PFT barn after the tournament ends. I’ll supply the booze and the cigars. Hopefully, they’ll supply the trophy.
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