[Hieronymus]

It's been 1 1/2 years(?) since Maccario's ACL injury, and it doesn't sound like a return is imminent. Hope for the best, but much concern here.

Rumblings say March maybe. So hope for soon. But she has been out a long time even for an ACL injury. Usually you see soccer players back in a year though it is not uncommon for it to take 2 years to be fully back. I hope she is fully recovered.

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This paragraph makes zero sense to me...

"Mexico, which recruits heavily in the U.S., has proved wildly successful at coaxing dual nationals to play for a senior team that has improved dramatically from the days when its roster was filled with dual nationals who spoke no Spanish and didn’t know the words to the national anthem."

It sounds like the roster is currently filled with the same type of players that it used to be, these ones are just better.

It does seem like the bigger difference is the launch of the professional women's league in México.

So first off, yes Mexico’s womens team has always had many dual US citizens. The confusing bit in the article makes no sense. I think a few things here. Better players. Most of the team does play in Mexico; so league improvement is certainly a factor. And the biggest might be more federation investment and a real coach.

It also matters that the US is rudderless until the Summer when the new coach shows up at a time when the team is pretty lost. The good news is Hayes should have a clear mandate to change whatever she thinks needs to be fixed.

[Hieronymus]

It's been 1 1/2 years(?) since Maccario's ACL injury, and it doesn't sound like a return is imminent. Hope for the best, but much concern here.

Rumblings say March maybe. So hope for soon. But she has been out a long time even for an ACL injury. Usually you see soccer players back in a year though it is not uncommon for it to take 2 years to be fully back. I hope she is fully recovered.

---

This paragraph makes zero sense to me...

"Mexico, which recruits heavily in the U.S., has proved wildly successful at coaxing dual nationals to play for a senior team that has improved dramatically from the days when its roster was filled with dual nationals who spoke no Spanish and didn’t know the words to the national anthem."

It sounds like the roster is currently filled with the same type of players that it used to be, these ones are just better.

It does seem like the bigger difference is the launch of the professional women's league in México.

So first off, yes Mexico’s womens team has always had many dual US citizens. The confusing bit in the article makes no sense. I think a few things here. Better players. Most of the team does play in Mexico; so league improvement is certainly a factor. And the biggest might be more federation investment and a real coach.

It also matters that the US is rudderless until the Summer when the new coach shows up at a time when the team is pretty lost. The good news is Hayes should have a clear mandate to change whatever she thinks needs to be fixed.