After falling out of favor shortly following his 2005 debut with the national team due to injury and off-the-field problems, Santino Quaranta has found himself back in the fold.
The United States Men's National Team cruised to another solid victory in a diluted Gold Cup after dispatching Honduras 2-0 with the Maryland native breaking the deadlock in the 75th minute.
"It was a very special night for me, personally," Quaranta told YA. "To be back wearing the jersey, to be on the field with the team and to listen to the anthem was very emotional for me."
Quaranta's emotional roller coaster was visible after he netted his first international goal at the place where it all began for him. The former teenage phenom ran into major on and off field problems, which saw him fall out of favor with both club and country.
The big midfielder went through rehab to get his act together, and has found his place back at RFK as he has come full circle to realizing his potential.
"It's been such a fun and long road back, and it was a special night," he admitted. "It's hard to explain. To be able to do it in front of my wife and my two kids was the most important thing.
I'm more proud to have done it here. To score anywhere for your country is special, but it's great to do it here where it all started for me."
The Baltimore local admitted to YA that it was absolutely necessary for him to care of his off the field issues in order to focus himself on his career.
"I just wanted to come back and be a good person," he said. Once it all started falling in place, the soccer came next.
I've just been enjoying life and have been very happy off the field which has really woken me up as a soccer player."
With the accolades surely coming his way, he is adamant that he is focused on the team and the fact that the US should be able to push its way into the depths of the competition.
"To get to the next round is the most important thing and the individual stuff comes later," he said. "The most important thing is to be able to win and to focus."
That focus will be tested against Haiti on Saturday night when the US travels to Gillette Stadium in Boston, Massachusetts. |
Thursday July 9, 2009
1:02 pm |
I hope that Quaranta gets a lot of PT in this tourney. It took a little bit for him to get into the rhythm of the game but once he did he really took control.
— Blaine
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