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FIFA has abolished a rule wherein players who represent Country A in an official youth tournament are then tied to that country once they turn 21. Now, the player is free to go to Country B or C, depending on his citizenship.

http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=r ... &type=lgns

For the U.S., it means we could still be eligible for Edgar Castillo and Jermaine Jones. Castillo was a LB who was born and grew up in New Mexico, signed for a Mexican club, and represented Mexico at the youth level. He has since been capped in a Friendly by the full Mexican national team, but not in an official 'A' match, ie World Cup Qualifying or the Gold Cup. The US is now able to try and convince him to make the switch, especially since we have such little depth at LB.

Jones is a defensive midfielder for Schalke and one of the top-rated players in the German league for the last couple years. He is a German citizen, but qualifies as an American through his father, who was stationed there. He represented Germany at the youth level, and was capped three times by the senior squad, but has been told by Loew he has no further place on Die Mannschaft. He would be an instant starter, as well.

Wouldn't that mean the U.S. could also lose Freddie Adu?

No, his appearance on Wednesday is all the reason we need to say he's ours - this ruling only applies to players who played at the youth level for a country, then never featured in an 'A' game for that country's senior team.

FIFA considers 'A' games to include WC Qualifiers, the WC, a region's championship (Gold Cup for us), etc.

DukeJack wrote:No, his appearance on Wednesday is all the reason we need to say he's ours - this ruling only applies to players who played at the youth level for a country, then never featured in an 'A' game for that country's senior team.

FIFA considers 'A' games to include WC Qualifiers, the WC, a region's championship (Gold Cup for us), etc.

Ok - thanks!

Forget Adu. He'd get his tail whipped by Chastain.

Jermaine Jones has announced he would like to switch from Germany to the U.S.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 01074.html

This is major news if the USSF can pull it off. He is consistently one of the highest rated players in the Bundesliga and would give our midfield a grit and bite it hasn't had since...maybe ever? This would settle the debate about which dmid to play, and with the sixty day period for this to take effect, the earliest he would be available is August 12 - at the Azteca. Sunil, please don't screw this up.

DukeJack wrote:Jermaine Jones has announced he would like to switch from Germany to the U.S.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 01074.html

This is major news if the USSF can pull it off. He is consistently one of the highest rated players in the Bundesliga and would give our midfield a grit and bite it hasn't had since...maybe ever? This would settle the debate about which dmid to play, and with the sixty day period for this to take effect, the earliest he would be available is August 12 - at the Azteca. Sunil, please don't screw this up.

He would be a major pick-up for us. You are right we need some more power at that position, and he should be able to step right in.