You don’t get called up to the national team because you tell good jokes, you are funny, you are handsome or because you are Messi’s friend. You are called up because you have a role at your given club and you have personality.
Getting the opportunity to play in your national team jersey and playing the World Cup at home is something wonderful.
It’s hard to think about the national team when you are with your club side and so invested in your team, your individual self and trying to win a play-off series.
We must lift ourselves for every challenge we face, no matter who you are playing – and that applies especially to the national team.
For Croatians it means everything to play for the national team. Because of the past. A lot of people died in the war. It’s like a duty for us to give everything.
When you come in with the national team, there’s an adjustment period. Sometimes you don’t have time to adjust.
The World Cup is the World Cup, and I’m sad I won’t play in it; that’s my only regret. But to play a friendly with my national team, I did it many times, so it’s not something I’m missing.
The PCB needs to be clear in its stance on players who have been involved in corruption and tarnishing the image of the country. Because playing for the national team is the highest honor for any athlete.
I played with the youth national team, I played in some CONCACAF games, and it’s always physical; it’s always intense.
I would like to thank all of the fans who have supported me throughout my career with the New England Revolution, Fulham, Tottenham, Seattle Sounders, and the U.S. Men’s National Team. Y’all have always made me feel at home, and it is something that I will always remember.
You always want to play for your national team whenever you can, so hopefully I can keep my form up and be in the picture.
It’s obviously important for the English national team if you have a lot of players playing big matches. You are more mature and know how to cope.
When I started to play football, when I was around 15, 16, I remember the players that played on the national team and noticed that it was only typically Swedish guys.
It was a privilege to enjoy the national team and be part of a group that gave so much to our country, wear the shirt with great people.
I had to move out when I was 14 and live by myself in the capital of Croatia. That’s when it got a little serious. From there, I played on the Croatian national team.
I can speak in cliches and say how much the Israel national team means to us, but we have to prove that on the pitch.
When I was growing up in Australia my dream was to play in Serie A and for the national team.
Both of my parents were judo fighters from the national team. So I’ve always been around fighters my whole childhood.
This is the Italian national team; there’s no need to give caps away. If the coach calls up certain players, it’s because he’s convinced they can give a big hand, and that’s why I’m here.
Playing for the national team, you are aware that a whole country wants you to succeed, but you mustn’t get side-tracked.
Lee Chung-yong has been playing well and trying hard at Bolton and has grown in confidence. His improvement is valuable for the national team.
Well, Italy is huge for me. I’ve been going back every summer, not just to see my family, but play with the Italian National Team. So, Italy plays a huge role in my life. It will always play a huge role in my life.
I had very good players around me in the team, like in the German national team. Andreas Brehme was one of my best partners in the team because he had good eyes; he could always hit the best ball.
Italy is the national team most similar to a club.
I will not play a farewell game with the national team. I would like to thank the federation for expressing an interest. But I prefer to leave football with an official match because I am not a fan of farewell games.
Diego Tardelli has a very good history with the national team, and left a legacy of his time in Dunga’s squad.
I’m lucky to play with Messi for the national team; I’ve learned many things. I can pick up a lot from him in terms of how he reads the play, how he thinks, how he sees the movement of his teammates. This will help me a lot for the future.
I have improved with time by playing for elite teams in elite leagues and the Champions League and with the Spanish national team in World Cups and European Championships.
I feel really good at Everton. My team-mates are helping me with my confidence on the field, and that is vital. And being part of the Brazil national team has been really important for my morale and a positive thing for my confidence.
It’s an immense pride for me to be captain of the national team.
The cool thing about China is that they really put a lot of value on their national team.
Getting to the national team is very complicated.
The captains of the national team are the ones that have played the most matches. That’s what I had in the national team. Maximum respect to those players.
Obviously my strength is going up and down the wing – that’s what has given me the opportunity to play for the national team and at Barcelona.
I have no idea if anyone is watching me from the Brazil national team, but the best way to have a chance is to do well for Liverpool.
Toni Kroos leaving the German national team would hurt me very much.
Regions’ role in detecting and developing a raw talent is no secret, as they work so hard to produce top class players who go on to represent departments, then national team, and also play in different leagues of the world.
I definitely see this team, the Canadian national team, definitely fighting for a spot in the 2022 World Cup.
I sincerely hope that Cristiano Ronaldo will reach my goal record for the national team.
I went to Fulham for the project they explained to me – but it didn’t really work out. I might have been playing at a high level for the national team, but I was starting to miss those European nights and challenging for titles.
I had nightmares after being with the national team. You shouldn’t have things like that.
An invitation to the national team is not a declaration of love.
Vitesse was my hometown club. They helped me in my career. It was Vitesse who helped me get in to the national team squad in the first place, even if I didn’t make the World Cup.
When I got to the senior national team, there was another Ronaldo, so they started calling me Ronaldinho because I was younger.
I feel at home and very happy with the national team. Even with the responsibility, I am very proud I can go and be in that environment.
If someone plays five good games in a row for the Bavarians, there is more talk about them being in the national team than of those who play five good games in a row for Dortmund or Wolfsburg or Bayer Leverkusen.
When I wear the national team shirt, its sole contact with my skin makes it stand on an end.
I play for the Turkish National Team. I live there.
I want to be successful with the national team and Bayern.
There might be more meetings and situations where you’re required to represent the country in some way that wouldn’t necessarily happen to you if you’re a club manager, but other than that, I haven’t found any differences in my approach between running a club side and a national team.
I want to be a top scorer with my national team.
It’s not easy, especially for a German national team player who did great things in the past and maybe is struggling. That’s why I think most of the German national team play abroad because if you don’t play for Bayern Munich and you don’t always win, it’s difficult.
As a player, you want to play for your national team – if you’re fit, you play; if you’re not fit, you don’t play.
The women’s national team is a very successful team, and that success has given us a platform to speak on gender equity issues. Millions of young women play soccer in this country, and it’s empowering for them to see that our contribution to the game is valued.
With the national team, you never know how long you’ve got, so you always have to be pushing and making the most of it.
My parents didn’t know anything about collegiate scholarships, so they had accepted the national team training stipend, the monthly stipend that I received after making the national team, so I was ineligible for NCAA eligibility anyway.
All three of us boys, we grew up playing soccer. It was all of our first love. One of my coaches actually wanted me to try out for the U.S. national team, but I decided to quit to pursue football.
I’ve had my processes and opportunities with the Mexican national team. I played a lot of international matches for my country and now I think it’s time to give the younger players and generation a chance.
Both with Bayern and with the national team, I have a lot of teammates who have achieved a lot more than me – most of them are world champions, European champions or Champions League winners.
I’ve had a great time with the national team and enjoyed some amazing moments.
I’ve had the opportunity to play with Neymar on the national team. Now I’m playing alongside Messi. He’s a different player, but he’s the best player in the world.
It is hard to enjoy life in a national team.
