With a 6-1 win over Cuba on Saturday night, the U.S. Men's National Team clinched their place in the final round of qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.About an hour after our game vs. Toronto, we received a call from U.S. Soccer. They were looking to call FCD's Kenny Cooper for the next WC Qualifier, at Trinidad and Tobago on Wed., Oct. 15. As some may have seen, Kenny was not listed on the roster that was announced today.
Kenny spoke with us here at the FCD Blog to explain:
"I feel so fortunate and honored to have been invited to join up with the U.S. Men's National team in Trinidad and Tobago. I made the difficult decision to pass on this opportunity because I had picked up a virus and have been playing with a sprained ankle. Considering the importance of my club's game versus Real Salt Lake this week, and that the National Team has already clinched a berth in the next round of qualifying, I felt it was the right thing to do to stay in Dallas and make sure I get well, and hopefully there will be other opportunities down the line."
26 comments:
This just confirms how classy of a player Kenny Cooper is. It's obvious that his dream is playing on the USMNT yet he's willing to stick it out with Dallas. Once again I'll say that this is the guy who deserves to be our DP.
Thanks Coops!
Thank you Kenny. I hope you feel that the organization and the fans have returned your commitment in kind. I agree with the above post 100%.
Unbelieveable. Thank-you again Kenny!
Hopefully this doesn't hurt his chances with Bob Bradley. His logic is 100% sound and I hope people applaud the decision.
Kenny if you read this you have so much class this why you are so loved here in Dallas. You are a team player.I enjoy taking picture of you and giving them to your family and friends. Matt and I have been here volunteering for 4 years. The guys on this team mean so much to to us. When I take pictures of the guys and give them to the guys on team it is very special to me when you say thanks for all you do for us. You can't get that no where else. Thank you for allowing me to do something I love by taking pictures of each and every one of you. I have a room that is dedicated to you guys and of course of Matt too.Thank you FC Dallas for letting us volunteer be apart of the greatest athletics I have ever known. Faye and Matt
The TnT game would have cap-tied him. is he keeping his options open for other national teams?
Kenny Cooper is my favorite sports athlete of all time - any sport. After getting to meet & know Kenny, this action does not surprise me at all. A true class act; that I hope FC Dallas can do EVERYTHING possible to keep him here in Dallas. And hopefully Bob Bradley understands the situation & gives Coop a well deserved future opportunity!
Now with Colorado's loss to LA just now, FC Dallas just needs to win!!!!!!!
Go FCD! Go Kenny Cooper!
FC Dallas 4 Life!!!!!!
Thanks Kenny. While we might not have the greatest number of supporters in the world, we certainly have the most grateful. There will be plenty of opportunities for you on the national team, especially if Bob Bradley wants to keep his job.
Thanks Kenny, you are the man. Also, to the anon above me, he has already been cap tied. He played on the Nats last year in a friendly, and actually scored a goal.
"The TnT game would have cap-tied him. is he keeping his options open for other national teams?"
Not only has he already scored for the USMNT, he played his second game in the USA uni in Pizza Hut Park...
He might've been eligible for England at one point, but uhh, yeah.
Cooper is NOT captied to the USA as friendlies don't count unless you have previously been capped in a competitive game at any level. As such Cooper is still eligible to play for England.
whatever
bradley finally wants to call him up when nothing is on the line. what kind of nonsense is that. it seems like a backhanded complement...but, maybe that's just me.
Kenny is SO classy. I just love him!
I like Kenny as much as the next guy... but he's got no chance for the only other national team he's eligible for (England).
Do I as a USA fan wish Kenny had accepted the call up? Of course I do.
Am I bummed that he declined? Meh.
Hopefully Kenny gets healthy weather that keeps him in Dallas next year (the front office would be insane not to keep him) or elsewhere.
KCJ could not crack the starting line up at MANU what makes anyone think that Kenny could play for the overhyped English team? Kenny is an American and he willplay for the USA when the time and place is agreeable to both parties.
USA already qualified for the HEX thus this TNT game is useless. Bradley does not want to use any of his annoited few against TNT so he extended an invitation to KCJ. There is nothing for Kenny or for the USA in this game. KCJ did the right thing of thinking of his Club in a time of need.
Good for Kenny... his time and cash will come.
Whatever! That is the biggest load of crap I ever heard. He's not sick and he doesn't have a sprained ankle. I see Kenny everyday and he is perfectly fine.
What a class act! I can't believe how easily fans get fooled when it comes to Kenny Cooper.
Kenny knew he's not good enough to keep up with the national team so to not make himself look stupid, he passed up the opportunity!
Making up all these bogus excuses. If he caught a virus, he would have missed practice and if you have a sprained ankle there is no way you can play everyone knows that.
But you ppl are to blind to see that b/c ppl are so obssesed with Cooper.
He could get away with murder and all of you would believe he's innocent!
100% class. Got a ton of respect for you, man.
Serioux had the same virus and played/practiced. why couldn't Coop? This virus has been going around the teamand has affected each player a little bit differently. some harder than others.
Coop is cap tied to the US as the first game he played in v Denmark was a "Friendly A" game which counts as an "official" game in FIFAs' eyes.
for the two anonymous above that think this is faking it. Please.
If you have ever played sports you know that you can play with a sprained ankle. And unless you are willing to state that you are the FC Dallas training team and Kenny's personal physichian you have no idea wether he has an injury or a virus.
@soccerroo:
Those two "anonymous" posters above are almost certainly the same uninformed person. So many people these days think sounding like Skip Bayless is a good thing... it's sad. I'm glad Cooper is showing true loyalty to his club... as an FC Dallas fan, it means a lot.
Thank you kenny. I have been hoping you would get a call up, but i say thank you for helping us get into the playoffs. This is good karma for you now go get a hat-trick against RSL.
To you anons: Who is the leading scorer on this team? Who is the number 2 scorer in MLS? Oh yeah it's Cooper. Maybe you should be thankful he plays for us.
And if Cooper did kill somone i think it would only be right that as an atlete in the US he gets away with it.
Thank you Kenny, go hoops
dallas till i die
Good for FCD but this ends KC's NAT's career before it started. He will never have another opportunity so sign on long term for MLS.
Guess we should have given Kenny the award at halftime on tuesday. That would have made winners out of all of us. We blew it! Sorry FCD.
Really unfortunate stupidity isn't a crime. Would be nice if someone could at least just take away the computers from the dopes above who think Kenny is faking it, or who say that he doesn't think he could keep up with the national team. Yeah, that's it. Please. Next time you think about posting comments like that, just say no.
Hope Kenny is feeling better and gets a couple more @ RSL this week.
Post a Comment