Giuseppe Rossi: a ripe obscenity?

I know it's an old topic, which is what the title refers to actually, but the last few days have opened up a can of worms that's as ancient as any in the professional side of the sport. Giuseppe Rossi, Joe Red as we call him in the podcast, born in the United States in a fascinating place called Teaneck, New Jersey, who played with the USMNT mascot Michael Bradley in his youth, and is under contract along with lead striker Jozy Altidore at Villareal, but spent his formative years both in the Parma youth system in Italy, and under the watchful eye of Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, scored a come from behind brace at the Confederation's Cup in South Africa the other day for Italy; leading his father's Azzurri to victory over the country of his birth.

Then the obscenities started coming. He's a traitor. Brainwashed by his father at the age of 13 to give up his allegiance and travel to Parma, Italy for a longshot chance at glory; a glory that isn't even his or so they say. Bruce Arena tried to get him to play for the U.S, especially when his career stalled on-loan at Newcastle United, but the kid had a dream: he wanted to play in that famous blue kit and he wanted to be the fantasista; heir to Baggio, Del Piero and Totti. He made it. Against all odds. We should be celebrating him.

Is he any different from Lukas Podolski or Miroslav Klose who both play for Germany instead of their native Poland? Ethnically they're German or so say their passports. Are you truly Argentinian if you're raised there but born in France like David Trezeguet? Should Mauro Camoranesi be derided because he bleeds Abiceleste instead of Azzurri? Omar Sivori was another in a long line of Oriundi playing in the belle paesi. So was Brazilian Jose Altafini. Or what about the greatest: Alfredo DiStefano; who played for his native Argentina, a bit part for Colombia and finally for his adoptive Spain? Should they have given up their dreams for some nationalistic idiocracy? Tab Ramos could have played for Uruguay. Ernie Stewart could have for Holland. Thomas Dooley couldn't even speak English but like his foreign born team-mates, he accepted citizenship and played for another country not of his birth. Mehmet Aurelio, Cacau, Pepe, Deco, even Euro 2008 winner Marco Senna, all of them were born in Brazil. Are they continually criticised because they gave up their slim chance at the selecao?

Why then is Giuseppe Rossi any different from 4 generations of his compatriots who played for national teams other than that of their birth? He's not. Rossi made the best choice for himself and his family. Some choose an easier route to the World Cup, some choose a stronger ethnic connection, others offer themselves to the highest bidders, but we have no right to question that decision.