10.8.13
ASN Morning Read: Losing (Players) to Iran
A rising Major League Soccer defender takes his talents to the Iranian national team; the magic of Mix Diskerud continues to impress; Brek Shea and Maurice Edu find the field; cats galore.
BY
Jesse Yomtov
Posted
October 08, 2013
8:01 AM
Steven Beitashour has accepted Iran’s invite to join the national team for its 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Thailand. The defender had been called up to the United States senior team twice under Jurgen Klinsmann, but never made an appearance. Beitashour’s parents were both born in Iran and if he plays in the match, he’ll be cap-tied to the country that has already secured its World Cup spot. When Iranian president Hassan Rouhani was at the United Nations last month he wanted to meet Beitashour, but the Earthquakes had a game.
Did you know the U.S. has never lost a game Mix Diskerud has played in? The team is 10-1-0 in 11 caps. Diskerud talked to Alex Labidou about his future with club and country, and says he’s learned a great deal from his time under Klinsmann. “He is of course one of the greats, and it will be a long time before I will question whether I should follow his advice or not,” Diskerud said.
Speaking of Diskerud, the Americans making their way to Kansas City, much to the dismay of a certain now-famous feline friend:
Brek Shea and Maurice Edu played for Stoke City’s U-21 team, with Shea picking up an assist on Stoke’s only goal in a 2-1 loss to Leicester.
Some in the Houston Dynamo organization
expressed their displeasure with MLS’ schedule not being tailored around international breaks as many of the league’s players will miss games due to international duty in the next week. "No one on the team is saying, 'Man, I wish he didn’t go [to the national team],'" Tally Hall said. "But they are saying, 'I wish the league and national team can have a schedule that coincides a little better, especially this late in the season.'"
Said head coach Dominic Kinnear: The more you think about it the more you want to complain. You just have to deal with it."
Not even including his $4 million salary from the Galaxy, David Beckham made more than $26 million in sponsorships during his final full year as a player. Take that, A-Rod.
