No split loyalties for US star 'Jedi' Robinson / Photo: JAMIE SQUIRE - GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
No split loyalties for US star 'Jedi' Robinson
Antonee "Jedi" Robinson, the USA's Liverpool-raised left-back with a strong British accent, is laser-focused on helping his national team go deep into the World Cup they are co-hosting, and will have no soft spot for his country of birth when they kick off against Croatia on Wednesday.
Since his debut in 2018, Robinson has become a lynchpin of the US team, solid defensively in their opening win over Paraguay but capable of spectacular strikes like his rocket against Germany in a recent friendly.
"I wouldn't say I'd be cheering for England!" Robinson told AFP.
"I mean, the boys who I know playing, I'll be hoping that they do well. But I don't really have a preference of what team does well in the tournament other than us," he said.
Robinson's father Marlon emigrated to the US and became a naturalized American citizen.
As a young child, he connected with his father's new culture by watching American cartoons, and is known to his teammates by the "Jedi" nickname he picked from "Star Wars."
Robinson is one of several US players with links to England. Striker Folarin Balogun, whose brace against Paraguay got the US co-hosts off to a dream start, grew up in London, while Gio Reyna and Sebastian Berhalter were born in the United Kingdom.
The US could play England in the knockouts -- a possible quarter-final if the Americans top their group and the English are runners-up.
Robinson said he would welcome a rematch of the 2022 World Cup group game, which ended in a 0-0 draw.
"If we got to face against England, obviously we played them last time, it'd be a nice rematch in a really tough game, and I'd hope we'd win it as well," he said.
But "in terms of a team we'd like to avoid, I'd back us against anyone," he said.
"There's not really one specific team I've looked at and thought 'I'd be worried to play against them.' There's quality teams all over the tournament."
For Robinson, this World Cup's expanded format and longer gap between games has meant a better chance to acclimatize to the US and his national teammates.
"It's really good for me personally... I had like a year-and-a-half off the national team for injuries and stuff, which was disappointing," he said.
"So to get up to speed with how everything's run, and it feeling like a regular schedule, almost operating like a club, it's got a lot of continuity about it.
"And I think that showed in my performance... We're enjoying the time we have together and making the most of it."
The USA's next game is against Australia on Friday. After an electrifying opening win, raucous home support is expected at the always-loud Seattle Stadium.
The Paraguay match "was one of the most fun games I've played in since I've been playing for the States," said Robinson.
"I've spoken to (Seattle Sounders and US midfielder Cristian Roldan) and other people who said how much of a soccer culture Seattle has, and I'm really looking forward to experiencing that first-hand."
(F.A.Hlatshwayo--TPT)
