The USA soccer team has never been a power house on the world level, sure they compete and compete well, but nonetheless they have never proven themselves to world. On April 1st, 2009 the world witnessed an amazing display of sure talent when the USA took on Trinidad in a World Cup qualifying match. Jozy Altidore, a young 19-year-old soccer player put his name in the history book of USA soccer by becoming the youngest player to score a hat trick in a World Cup qualifier. He showed to the world that the USA soccer team is going to be a team to beat next year at the World Cup in South Africa. USA dominated Trinidad on both sides of the ball, out shooting, out hustling and flat out out playing Trinidad. The USA soccer team looked very sharp and was relentless in all aspects of the game. An article that I found in the NY Daily News gives a great overview of the game. Check it out at: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/2009/04/02/2009-04-02_jozy_altidores_three_scores_do_trick_for.html
Jozy Altidore has proven to be a play-maker and doesn't show any signs of letting up. With the experience of Landon Donavan and Frankie Hedujk, the USA soccer team should be a main player in the 2010 World Cup. Jozy Altidore did not seem like a young man in the interview that he gave to ESPN after the game. He was humble about his accomplishment and proud of his team. He gave all the credit to his team mates and not himself. That is what impressed me the most. Coming from a PR guy, Jozy is an absolute gold mine for the soccer industry in America. Now lets not go crazy just yet, but think of the potential that the marketing and PR could be on this young rising soccer star. The potential that I see could be endless. Jozy has proven to be a powerful striker on the field, but he has also overcome some pretty big obstacles. He went over seas to play in Spain and was benched for a year and then sent to a lower division club team. He has shown the world that patience is the key to success and grabbing hold of an opportunity that presents itself is a must. Altidore was not a planned starter against Trinidad but look at what he did with the opportunity that was given to him. The PR and marketing schemes that could go with overcoming the odds and taking advantage of opportunities is a great way to go, given the current state of our country. In my opinion, Altidore opened the doors, for not only himself but for a whole bunch of new PR avenues with his amazing hat trick. GO USA!!!!!!!!!
