"'It's about representing your country,' said USMNT greats Donovan and Howard while questioning Robinson's decision to prioritize Fulham over national team duties."
The ex-US national team players questioned Robinson’s commitment after the Fulham full-back chose to skip the Nations League tournament.
WHAT HAPPENED
USMNT legends Tim Howard and Landon Donovan criticized Fulham defender Antonee Robinson for choosing club over country after he skipped the CONCACAF Nations League. Robinson had cited a knee tendon issue as his reason for withdrawing from national team duty, but then played for Fulham in both their FA Cup quarterfinal against Crystal Palace and a Premier League match versus Arsenal shortly afterward. Donovan was particularly vocal about his displeasure with Robinson’s decision.
“I’m kind of coming to terms with what has happened here as he (Robinson) ended up starting the next weekend for Fulham. This is about priorities, and I did this in my career for friendly games. So this is about priorities. Antonee Robinson has three competitions that he cared about in the last two or three weeks,” Donovan said on the Unfiltered podcast. “The Premier League, the FA Cup, and the Nations League, right? So these are three important tournaments.
“And his decision was that ‘I’m going to not focus and not put my priority on the national team, and I’m going to put my priority with Fulham for the FA Cup and the rest of the season.’ Now, I understand that – I’ve been in his shoes, I get it – but it’s your national team and your country, and I didn’t like the decision, personally.”
WHAT TIM HOWARD SAID
Tim Howard, who hosts the show alongside Donovan, developed the point further when he said
“I think what you’re speaking to is kind of what I see as well. He put his story on Instagram and I don’t doubt him. I respect and like and think the world of him but if he had to, whatever issue that he was dealing with, it needed rest and it needed 10-day rest or something and he’s managing that. I think from a US Soccer standpoint, he could have rested it the Premier League weekend before, which would have given him a week.
“He could have played in the U.S. games and then rested it in the FA Cup but he chose to take the rest during the Nations League. But again, I think that is what we’re seeing, that’s his choice and I think on a level of priorities, it’s the Premier League, FA Cup, and men’s national team. I think that probably speaks to a bigger problem at the national team level and it’s what I said was my biggest concern – and I actually said this going into the last World Cup. That this group of players, I wonder how many games between now and the World Cup the best group of players will play together. So that is a problem and it speaks to a bigger issue. “
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Robinson has emerged as one of Fulham’s top performers this campaign, becoming an integral part of Marco Silva’s squad in their push for European qualification. The American international has registered 10 assists this season – a tally only surpassed by Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah among Premier League players.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Fulham, with Antonee Robinson in their ranks, currently occupy eighth place in the Premier League standings, trailing fourth-placed Chelsea by four points with eight matches remaining. Their upcoming fixtures include a home clash against Liverpool on April 5, followed by an away trip to face Bournemouth on April 14.
