Italy Coach Giampiero Ventura didn't call Toronto FC Forward Sebastian Giovinco for the national team because he believes the Italian forward "plays in a league that doesn't count for much." Ventura, though, is sending the wrong message to Giovinco with his reasons.
According to ESPN FC, Ventura said that he has done "everything to help" Giovinco, but "the reality is that he plays in a league that doesn't count for much." He adds that the number of goals the Italian forward will score is less important due to the quality of opponents he has got.
"The problem is that if you play in that type of league, and you get used to playing in that type of league, it becomes a problem of mentality," Ventura said. He adds that it is the same for Domenico Criscito, who plays in Russia.
He said Criscito is a great player, but he needs to rediscover the spark that will let him become an even greater player. He adds that rediscovering the spark is also what Giovinco needs to do.
Though, Ventura probably means well, he is still sending the wrong message to the Italian forward. Fox Sports reports that the message the Italian coach is sending is that Giovinco will never be evaluated as long as plays for Toronto FC.
Even if he was the Most Valuable Player in Major League Soccer (MLS), what he does and what he achieves will be irrelevant. Ventura will outright dismiss Giovinco's talent on principle because he plays in the MLS.
This approach by Ventura limits the player selection and is antithetical in some way to how a national coach should act. When a country's talents is spread out international, a coach should bring them all together and evaluate them accordingly.
Giovinco, though, understands his situation but he seems to have no problem with that. He has played well for Toronto FC, combining on 32 goals scored or assisted this season. He even led his team in eliminating New York FC in the MLS playoffs with a hat-trick following the announcement of Italy's line-up. A happy striker, after all, tends to play well.
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