A few ears perked up in the middle of May when Real Salt Lake forward Robbie Findley was invited to the US Men’s National Team training camp. He was one of 30 players coach Bob Bradley selected to compete for the final 23 roster spots on the World Cup team that will represent the United States in South Africa next week.
XanGo wasn’t surprised, exactly, when Findley got called up. We know how amazing he is. We watched him score 12 goals during the 2009 regular season, three more during regular time in the playoffs and both of his penalty kicks in their giant-killing run to the MLS Cup. The sensation we felt was less surprise than relief that the U.S. soccer world at large was finally giving Findley and RSL the respect they deserve.
But, still. He was competing with some big names for one of only four forward spots. Jozy Altidore was a shoe-in. Brian Ching and Eddie Johnson are veterans of the 2006 World Cup team. Edson Buddle has been scoring like it isn’t even a thing this year for the Galaxy and Herculez Gomez is the first American to lead a foreign league in goals with his Mexican club team, Puebla.
“Whatever I get, I’ll take it,” Findley said, honored just to be named to the 30-man roster. Bradley’s decision not to play him in the Czech Republic match May 25th felt ominous, and the optimists among us were deciding to be glad to have him back for the next few RSL matches.
Sorry, optimists. Findley won’t be back for this week’s games against D.C. United and L.A. He’ll be in South Africa, representing RSL, XanGo, his hometown of Phoenix and the United States as they square off against the world’s best players in the most popular sporting event on the planet.
Findley was chosen along with Altidore, Buddle and Gomez to constitute the United States’ attack, leaving Ching and Johnson to return to their club teams. His blistering speed helped the less-experienced Findley earn a spot, and he’ll likely come on as an energetic second half substitute in South Africa as he did in the United States’ 2–1 victory in a friendly against Turkey last Saturday. Teammate and goalscorer Clint Dempsey credited Findley’s pace with opening up the Turkish defense, creating the space for the other forward and midfielders to work. Findley’s spot-on pass to Donovan also set up the United States’ first goal.
As the announcer says in the clip above, “the build up was perfection.” Here’s to Robbie’s continuing success.
Tune in for the United States’ final friendly against Australia, Saturday, June 5th at 6:30 a.m. MT on ESPN2, and let’s hope we get to see Findley running past England’s aging defenders in the first World Cup match for the red, white and blue, June 12 at 12:30 p.m. MT on ABC.
Robbie Findley’s International Exploits
A few ears perked up in the middle of May when Real Salt Lake forward Robbie Findley was invited to the US Men’s National Team training camp. He was one of 30 players coach Bob Bradley selected to compete for the final 23 roster spots on the World Cup team that will represent the United States in South Africa next week.
XanGo wasn’t surprised, exactly, when Findley got called up. We know how amazing he is. We watched him score 12 goals during the 2009 regular season, three more during regular time in the playoffs and both of his penalty kicks in their giant-killing run to the MLS Cup. The sensation we felt was less surprise than relief that the U.S. soccer world at large was finally giving Findley and RSL the respect they deserve.
But, still. He was competing with some big names for one of only four forward spots. Jozy Altidore was a shoe-in. Brian Ching and Eddie Johnson are veterans of the 2006 World Cup team. Edson Buddle has been scoring like it isn’t even a thing this year for the Galaxy and Herculez Gomez is the first American to lead a foreign league in goals with his Mexican club team, Puebla.
“Whatever I get, I’ll take it,” Findley said, honored just to be named to the 30-man roster. Bradley’s decision not to play him in the Czech Republic match May 25th felt ominous, and the optimists among us were deciding to be glad to have him back for the next few RSL matches.
Sorry, optimists. Findley won’t be back for this week’s games against D.C. United and L.A. He’ll be in South Africa, representing RSL, XanGo, his hometown of Phoenix and the United States as they square off against the world’s best players in the most popular sporting event on the planet.
Findley was chosen along with Altidore, Buddle and Gomez to constitute the United States’ attack, leaving Ching and Johnson to return to their club teams. His blistering speed helped the less-experienced Findley earn a spot, and he’ll likely come on as an energetic second half substitute in South Africa as he did in the United States’ 2–1 victory in a friendly against Turkey last Saturday. Teammate and goalscorer Clint Dempsey credited Findley’s pace with opening up the Turkish defense, creating the space for the other forward and midfielders to work. Findley’s spot-on pass to Donovan also set up the United States’ first goal.
As the announcer says in the clip above, “the build up was perfection.” Here’s to Robbie’s continuing success.
Tune in for the United States’ final friendly against Australia, Saturday, June 5th at 6:30 a.m. MT on ESPN2, and let’s hope we get to see Findley running past England’s aging defenders in the first World Cup match for the red, white and blue, June 12 at 12:30 p.m. MT on ABC.