DALLAS (June 2, 2003) -- Dallas Burn defender Ryan Suarez removed all doubt over his international career when he pulled the #16 USA jersey over his head last Monday against Wales.
The son of Uruguayan immigrants to the U.S., Suarez was technically eligible to play for either the U.S. or Uruguay based on FIFA requirements. He had had offers in the past to play for the Uruguay, serious ones as recently as last summer. Yet Suarez always held out hope he would be called into the U.S. National Team so he could appear for his country.
There is no question that Suarez appreciates the soccer history of both countries. His father played professionally in Uruguay and Mexico, and he speaks Spanish fluently. He even named his Siberian Huskie, Enzo, for the great Uruguayan player of the '70s and '80s, Enzo Francescoli who has been a close friend of his family.
Still, growing up in San Jose playing club and college soccer in the U.S. drew his heart closer to this country, much like other National Team players of Uruguayan backgrounds like Tab Ramos and Claudio Reyna.
Ironically, if he hadn’t been red-carded in the Burn’s last game against Los Angeles, he might not have had the chance to play in the Wales game. With a one-game suspension freeing him up for Memorial Day weekend, he jumped at the chance when U.S. National Team head coach Bruce Arena gave him the call to come into the team.
The fact that he got to do it in front of over 50 members of his family and friends in his hometown, on the same field he made his MLS debut and began his college career at San Jose State gave the game even more meaning for Suarez.
After the game, Suarez had a chance to discuss one of the biggest nights of his life with USSoccerPlayers.com and what it meant to him.
Tell us what the experience of your first cap was like.
The script could not have been written any better. I started my college career, my professional career there, and now I have started my national team career there, all shutouts by the way. There are really no words – you can try to sugarcoat it all you want, but there are no words to explain how surreal the experience was. The only way to explain it is if you have 15,000 people singing the national anthem with you on the field and to hear the stadium boom with the national anthem. You can feel the vibration of the voices.
How did you feel you did in your first game?
It was the first game to get the nerves out. I was not brilliant with the ball, but I did not lose it in dangerous spots either. I just played simple and defended for Earnie Stewart. I let him do his things, I did my thing, and it worked out well.
When did you finally decide to declare for the U.S. instead of Uruguay?
When Bruce called me. It was really up to him. I am all for U.S. – I was born here and my career started here. The U.S. gave me an opportunity to play and I will take it. Last year would have been a nice opportunity to go with Uruguay to the Copa America, but I did not have the blessing of the head coach or the organization (in Dallas). I could not leave in the middle of the season. That being said, I can’t be more than thrilled to be with the U.S. I hope I can continue on.
Uruguay has World Cup Qualifying starting in September – if you had not missed the league game, how close would it have come to making a decision one way or the other this summer?
It could have been real close. They don’t take it lightly when you say no, when you decline an offer to go play. They understand the situation here that the league system is different than Europe. It just didn’t work out there. Things have a way of working themselves out.
My heart has always been with the U.S. They have given me an opportunity to play and I have grown up and developed as a footballer here in the U.S. I owe them all the gratitude so my faith is with the U.S. If I didn’t have an option for the U.S., then there always would have an open window for Uruguay. I would love to play for the U.S. in the World Cup in Germany.
How many of your friends and family were there at the game in San Jose?
There were 53 of my family and friends. The Federation only gives you six tickets so I had to fork over the rest of them which was not too pretty, but it was great.
How do you think your future looks with the National Team?
I have talked to Bruce, and when the boys go back to Europe, hopefully, I will be on the list for the Gold Cup in July. I did what I had to do, and hopefully, he liked it. I hope he will continue to look at me over the next three years.
The U.S. and Uruguay were in the World Cup last summer – who were you rooting for?
It has always been a split vote for me. My first game ever in RFK Stadium was to see the US play Uruguay (May, 2002) when Chris Armas tore his ACL. I am sitting with my family of Uruguayans right behind the U.S. bench rooting for the U.S. My family is real passionate. They love Uruguay, but they also love me representing the U.S. in my colors.
You can only imagine how it was when they saw me play in the game. My mom was crying, and my dad, who I have never seen cry, had water in his eyes as well. My brothers were all throwing confetti in the air. It was a really intimate experience.
