As the parent of two young Mexican-American football players competing professionally in Europe. We have walked the winding, often unpredictable road of raising aspiring athletes. We have watched two boys -and a girl- chase a shared dream across cities, states, and continents. And, if there’s one truth we have learned along the way, it is that talent is just the beginning.
Natural ability on and off the ball matters a lot, but talent alone is never enough to reach the professional level. If you are a parent supporting a young football player with big dreams (who isn’t?), there are critical traits often unseen on the stat sheet that are just as important, if not more so, than raw skill.
Let me walk you through some key traits that make the difference between good, and better, and how you as a parent, can help nurture them. These traits apply to many sports. In fact, they apply to many walks of life.
Growth Mindset: Belief that ability can improve
Kids who believe that abilities can be developed (rather than fixed) are more likely to seek challenges and persist through difficulties. Those who are disciplined to enhance existing abilities and develop new ones have a greater chance of success. A few years ago, during COVID, I wrote this article about a growth mindset and GRIT. It is still very valid…
How parents can help: Avoid labeling your child as a “natural” or saying they were “born talented”. Instead, say thinks like, “You worked hard on that move” or “Your improvement in passing really shows your dedication.”.
Resilience: The art of bouncing back
Lack of playing time, injury, cuts from teams, and bad performances are all part of the journey. What separates those who make it from those who do not is the ability to bounce back: resilience.
How parents can help: Do not shield your child from failures; help them process it. Encourage honest reflection and foster a home environment where setbacks are viewed as learning experiences, not the end of the road.
Grit: The power of passion + perseverance
Coined by psychologist Angela Duckworth, “grit” is a blend of sustained passion and long-term effort. Gritty players keep pushing when the initial motivation fades (ex. during cold practices, bench time, and long travel days).
How parents can help: Praise effort, not just results. Celebrate the process and remind your child that every hour on the pitch (even the tough ones) is an investment in their in their dream.
Perseverance: Sticking with it, even when it’s hard
This goes hand-in-hand with grit. Whether it’s staying motivated through long seasons, navigating coaching changes, or being away from home, perseverance is key.
How parents can help: Offer emotional consistency. Your child needs to know that your love and support don’t depend on performance. Let your home be their anchor.
Passion: The internal drive that fuels the fire
You can’t fake passion. Kids who truly love the game will play when no one’s watching (integrity), train when no one asks, and watch matches with intent to learn.
Close up of a female soccer team celebrating a scored goal
How parents can help: Don’t force the dream. Let your child lead the way. Your role is to support their passion, not to manufacture it.
Sacrifice: Giving up to go up
Becoming a professional footballer requires difficult choices. Social events, free time, and even traditional schooling paths might need to be adjusted to support elite training and competition.
How parents can help: Model sacrifice in your own life and frame it positively. Teach your child to value long-term goals over short-term pleasures. Make sure the sacrifices align with their dreams and not just yours.
Adaptability: Thriving in constant change
A pro football journey is short and often means new teams, new coaches, new countries, and new languages. Adaptability is what keeps players steady in the face of uncertainty.
How parents can help: Encourage independence from an early age. Let your child handle adversity and discomfort. International tournaments, cultural exchanges, or short stints away from home can be powerful preparation.
Coachability: Willingness to learn and change
Even the most gifted players will not succeed without taking feedback and applying it. Humility and openness to learning are crucial.
How parents can help: Model a growth-oriented attitude toward learning in your own life. Encourage respectful relationships with coaches. Help your child reflect after games or sessions, rather than rushing in with critiques.
The Journey is Yours
As a parent, your role isn’t to scout the perfect club, hire the best trainer, or push your child harder. Your job is to guide, support , believe and to help your child develop the traits that will serve them not only in football but in life.
Big Journeys Begin With Small Steps sign
Professional football is a narrow path, but it is NOT reserved for the most naturally gifted. It is open to those who are relentless, resilient, disciplined, and ready for the long haul. Help your child become one of them.
Please reach out if you have topics you would like us to expand on. #theGomezway
And just like that, the first quarter of this century has banished and we start the next one..as anticipated in the 2023 in hindsight for the Gomez’s publication, this year needed to have a decreased emphasis on traveling and a pronounced focus on health and that’s what we did. In the process, we managed to partake in a few running races.
On the other hand, our “eyes” did not anticipate witnessing much beyond sports but as luck would have it, not only did we witness our 2nd full Solar Eclipse (first in 1990 in Mexico City) but also witnessed our first Space X launch (with its booster catch included) live. These events will live in our hearts forever.
Spacex launch prep V: 10.13.24
This year also marked the beginning of an action packed football (soccer) events leading up to the 2026 Men’s and 2027 Women’s World Cups respectively. The first half of the year was benevolent with our family while the second half tested our resilience. This is how our year went down…
January
Personal
The year started strong for Joana in football. Her club team captured the first championship Showcase they participated in Florida.
Joana – College ShowCase
On January 12th, we traveled to Orlando for Joana’s first out of town showcase tournament. Four days later, and after five 80-minutes games played, her team returned home with the championship hardware.
National
On January 9th, the Michigan Wolverines defeated the Washington Huskies (who had in turn defeated my longhorns) by a score of 34-13 in the NCAA National Championship game played at the Cowboys AT&T stadium in Arlington, Texas (our backyard).
Global
Tennis
On January 27th, Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka won the 2024 women’s Australian Open defeating Chinese sensation Zheng Qinwen in straight sets. In 2023, she had also won the prestigious tournament. If you haven’t read her story, I encourage you to do so.
On January 28th, after being down to Daniil Medvedev the first two sets 3-6, 3-6. Italian 22 year-old Jannik Sinner took the next three sets in an epic comeback to win his first Men’s Grand Slam: the Australian Open. In the semifinals, he had previously defeated Novak Djokovik. Jannik Sinner would go on to win the US Open in September. Unfortunately for Medvedev, he has lost a total of 6 Grand Slam finals portrayed below.
Grand Slam finals lost by Daniil Medvedev
Football
On January 5th, shortly after the one year anniversary of Pele’s death (December 29th, 2022), the world of football suffered another great loss as Brazilian legend Mário Lobo Zagallo died at age 93. The “Lobo” is the winningest footballer having won the FIFA World Cup four times. He won it in 1958 and 1962 as a player, he won it again in 1970 as a manager and in 1994 as assistant manager. He was the first of three footballers to have won the Men’s FIFA World Cup as player and manager. The other two are Frenchman Didier Deschamps and German Franz Beckenbauer.
On January 8th, the world of football legends suffered yet another great loss as German superstar Franz Bekenbauer died at age 78. The “kaiser” (the emperor) as he was known not only won the 1974 FIFA World Cup as captain of his national team but he also won it as a manager in 1990 in Italy. He started his career playing as a midfielder but his best years occurred while playing as a central defender.
February
Personal
After a long and arduous document gathering process, I traveled to Spain to ensure all paperwork was properly handled and submitted.
National
The Smokehouse Creek Fire, the largest wildfire on record in the state of Texas (and second in the US up to that point) burned 1.1 million acres (approximately 426,600 hectares). It started on February 26 in Hutchinson County and rapidly spread across multiple counties. Governor Gregg Abbott declared it a national emergency.
Global
Superbowl
On February 11th, while in Germany visiting Johan, the Kansas City Chiefs rallied to defeat the San Francisco 49ers in overtime by a score of 25-22 in Super Bowl LVIII (58th). Texas native (and neighbor) Patrick Mahomes was named, for the second straight year, the MVP of the game. The Chiefs became back to back Super Bowl Champions and started what some predict could become a dynasty.
The halftime show, featuring Rihanna, reached a high of 118.7 million viewers. As usual, the commercials stole “the show”.
March
March was a month full of basketball record breaking events.
Personal
U23 – US Olympic Soccer
Johan was called for the third consecutive time to the U23 US National team in preparation for the Summer Olympics in Paris 2023. Jonathan was also called; however, once again, CD Mirandés’ Sporting Director did not release him.
Note: CD Mirandés was in the middle of a close race to retain the class. When asked about the lack of a release, Sporting Director Alfredo Merino stated that he could grant Jonathan the release in exchange for a signed pre-contract with Mirandés for the 2024-2025 season (which RS would have had to approve anyway). We of course, opted to sacrifice the U23 call-up (and possibly the Olympics) on account of not getting in trouble with Real Sociedad. Truth be told, the experience with CD Mirandés has been the best so far in Europe. We would go back there any day.
After a solid season in her second year of varsity, Joana made the All-State 1st team as a sophomore.
National
The month was marked by record breaking events. Side note: Ironically, we normally end up talking about the March Madness conclusion in April.
Basketball
On March 7th, after winning back to back national women’s basketball association (NWBA) championships in 2022 and 2023, the Las Vegas Aces, announced that the entire 2024 season had been sold out. This is unprecedented in league history.
Caitlin Clark
On March 1, Caitlin Clark breaks the all-time NCAA Division I college basketball career scoring record that had been held by Pete Maravich with 3,685 points She proceeded to shatter the record in her senior year amassing a total of 3951 points and 548 three-pointers leading all D1 (men’s and women’s) programs. She decided to forego a fifth year of eligibility (due to COVID in 2019) to declare for the WNBA draft.
Global
On March 2nd, Lebron James becomes the first NBA player to reach 40,000 points against the Denver Nuggets.
April
Personal
On April, 20th, Johan scored an important goal against Vfl Osnabruk to help his club be in the hunt to preserve the class in the 2.Bundesliga. Being his first season in the German second division, his playing time (and production) was always impactful starting most games in multiple positions. Most importantly, he did not sustain any major injuries which is always the priority as a professional player.
National
March Madness
On April 8th, the 2024 NCAA March Madness tournament came to an end. UConn defended its 2023 title by defeating the Purdue Boilmakers by a score of 75 to 60 (2023 score was 76 to 59) to claim the 2024 NCAA national title.
This was the 6th championship for the Huskies men’s basketball program. As a side note, my running horns made it to the Round of 32 before collapsing against the other orange guys: The University of Tennessee.
Global
Solar Eclipse
On April 8th, I got to witness the second fully solar eclipse in my life. Back on July 11th, 1990 in Mexico City, I had witnessed the first one but this one was more special as I witnessed it with family.
May
Personal
Eintracht Braunschweig:
On May 12th, in a must-win game, Eintracht Braunschweig retained the Bundesliga.2 class by beating SV Wehen Wiesbaden by a score of 1-0. After a first long arduous season playing in the 2nd division in Germany, Johan secured playing with the club another year which in June was extended given his good form.
ECNL:
Joana’s team finished the 2023 – 2024 in first place once again. She continued her soccer maturity and high school soccer helped a lot. Her minutes and contributions were solid. We are very proud of the footballer she’s becoming.
On May 19th, the final day of the season, Manchester City beat West Ham United 3–1 at home to become the first club in Premier League history to win four consecutive titles. They won the title with 91 points – two points ahead of their title rivals Arsenal, who defeated Everton 2–1 at home. Arsenal finished runners-up with 89 points, becoming the third-best second-placed team in the history of the Premier League.
June
The beginning of the second half of the year started out in a brutal way for the family.
Personal
Mirandés:
On June 2nd, Jogo played his last game of the season where CD Mirandés secured the class. In a home game of “winner retains the class”, Mirandés defeated SD Amorebieta by the score of 1-0 and guaranteed another year in the 2nd division in Spain.
Joana
Joana tore her ACL in her second game of the ECNL playoffs. After surgery (almost a month later), she was told the expected recovery time was about 6 – 9 months. Our summer plans changed radically but more so her soccer year and just like that, the road to recovery started…no pain, no gain.
National
NBA
On June 17th, in the fifth game of the NBA finals, the Boston Celtics defeated our hometown team the Dallas Mavericks. It was a carbon copy of the 2023 finals where the Denver Nuggets also won the NBA finals over the Miami Heat in five games. As most would expect, Serbian center Nikola Jokic was named MVP of the finals.
MLB
On June 18th, the world of baseball lost one of the greatest athletes to have ever played the game. Willie Mays, passed away in his home in California due to a heart failure.
Global
On June 9th, Carlitos Alcaraz won his first major of the year: French Open. Despite winning two major Grand Slams in 2024 (including Wimbledon), the year finished in a frustrating manner after losing the Olympics final to Novak Djokovic, and being knocked out early of the US Open.
July
Personal
Paris Olympics
Johan was selected to the 22-men roster for the US Olympic soccer team. I traveled to Marseille, France to meet up with him (for his birthday mostly) for the first two group stage games. (Un)fortunately, that’s what his club allowed him to participate in. It was a magnificent experience playing against the host nation for the opening game and witnessing the atmosphere live.
National
On July 14th, Argentina won the Copa America for a 16th time. This time, the defending champions defeated Colombia in overtime by a score of 1-0. The final game was played at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami under a complete lack of logistical organization.
Global
President Trump
On July 13, 2024, Donald Trump, back then the presumptive nominee of the Republican Party in the 2024 presidential election, survived an assassination attempt while speaking at an open-air campaign rally near Butler, Pennsylvania
Euros
On July 14th, the football world was paralyzed to watch the Euro final between Spain and England in Germany. In a highly close match, Spain eventually prevailed by a score of 2-1. In the 86th minute of the game, then Jogo’s Real Sociedad teammate Mikel Oyarzabal scored the match winner giving Spain its 2nd Euro Cup.
August
Personal
There were offers that came in from some Liga Mx clubs for Jogo whose value artificially inflated his market value. Those immediately impacted Real Sociedad Sporting Director’s (Roberto Olabe) greed and future for Jogo. After a successful pre-season with the first team which included a tour in Japan; it was evident that first team Coach along with Roberto were seeking financial remuneration prior to Jogo’s last contract year. As a result, Jogo expressed his desire to continue in the Spanish market; however, Roberto blocked the offers that did come in from La Liga 2 clubs mostly and a couple from La Liga, thus forcing Jogo to look elsewhere. When Jogo refused to return to Mexico, Roberto made his (and other players such as Roberto Navarro under a similar situation) lives miserable.
Roberto Olabe (Sporting Director), Imanol Alguacil (Head Coach) and Jokim Aperribay (President). Three characters…
We are very grateful with Real Sociedad as the club provided Jogo his first European opportunity. In the end, we know that people come and go and clubs endure the passage of time. Some people however, can certainly impact a club’s reputation. Greed is a horrible thing…
Right before the market closed in September, Olabe finally allowed (thanks to a hefty transfer fee paid by PAOK FC), a transfer to an unimaginable league for us, but at last, escaped Roberto’s constant abuse of players who didn’t align with his financial initiatives. Currently, we are still struggling to find our footing in a foreign market that we were forced into.
On August 25th, the Columbus Crew defeated Los Angeles FC (3-1) to win the 4th edition of the Leagues Cup. For the second consecutive year using this format, an MLS club prevailed over Liga MX clubs.
Global
Olympics:
On August 11th, the Paris 2024 Olympics came to an end. It was an unforgettable month of sports with many memories made. Here is the final medal tally.
Among the most notable moments were these: The inagural ceremony at the Rhine river on a rainy Friday night, Nadal vs Djokovik match, Simon Biles, Photo finish, etc.
September
Personal
On my 20th anniversary officiating football, Joana and I repeated what the boys and I did several years earlier: we officiated a (albeit rec) game together. As I had anticipated last year in the end-of-year publication. Joana decided to partake in the game from a different perspective.
National
On Saturday, September 7th, 2nd ranked Aryna Sabalenka won her second Grand Slam of the year (third overall) by beating American-Korean 6th ranked Jessica Pegula in straight sets (7-5, 7-5)
On Sunday, September 8th, Jannik Sinner defeated American sensation Taylor Fritz further delaying having an American win the Meadows Grand Slam for yet another year. The US Open became Sinner’s second Slam of the year (and career).
Surprisingly, Jannik defeated Fritz in three straight sets making the match one of the shortest ones in recent history: 6-3, 6-4, and 7-5.
Global
On September 19th, Japanese two-way (pitcher and designated player) baseball player Shohei Ohtani became the first player in MLB history to record a 50-50 (50 home runs and 50 stolen bases) in one season. Ohtani would continue his impact in the month of October helping the Los Angeles Dodgers reach and play through the post-season.
October
Personal
Space X
On October 13th around 7:25 AM, we witnessed history in the making in South Padre Island. The successful launch of the fifth SpaceX Starship was a feat in itself; however, the most amazing experience was witnessing the successful return of its booster back to its launch base where it had taken off five minutes prior. Relive it here where every detail is explained.
Meanwhile, the ship continued its way around earth and re-entered the atmosphere to land in the Indian Ocean.
Greek Super League
Jogo made his official Greece Super League (and European first division) debut on October, 6th in an away game against Levadiakos. Paok FC defeated the home team by a score of 2-0. In October, Jogo also debuted in the Greece Cup (round of 16) on October 30th. This is the 2nd country where he professionally partakes of the Cup competition -Copa del Rey). In this game, Paok FC prevailed over Egaleo by a score of 3-0 with a solid showing.
National
On October 23rd, Lebron James (39) and his son Bronny (20) made history by becoming the first father and son to play in an NBA game together. The duo shared the court for about 150 seconds. The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves by a score of 120-113.
Global
Tennis:
On October 11th, 38th year old Rafael Nadal announced that the Davis Cup in the month of November would be his last tournament before retirement.
Commonly known as the king of clay due to his dominance on that surface, Nadal climbed up to the #1 ATP world ranking for the first time by defeating friend and rival Roger Federer in the epic 2008 Wimbledon final. This match is commonly regarded as the greatest tennis match ever played.
On October 30th, the Los Angeles Dodgers overcame an 0-5 deficit in game 4 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium to win the game 7-6. In doing so, they swept the series to win their 8th World Series and first one since 2020.
This took place a couple of days before recently deceased Mexican former LA pitcher’s Fernando Valenzuela’s birthday on November 1st. What a gift had it been if the Dodgers had won on his birthday.
November
Personal
Johan had his first assist (somewhat fortuitous) of the 24-24 season. Going into the 2nd FIFA break of the 2024-2025 season, at the time, Eintracht Braunschweig was located just outside of the relegation zone and playing well.
National
On November 14th, the USMNT defeated Jamaica (1-) in the first leg of the quarterfinal of the CONCACAF Nations League. In the second leg a few days later, the USMNT won 4-2. In the semifinal game, the USMNT will face Panama.
Meanwhile, the Mexican national team narrowly defeated Honduras by an aggregate score of 4-2. In the first leg, Mexico lost 2-0 and many thought the team would not make it to the semifinals to be played in March 2025.
Global
On Tuesday November 5th (Super Tuesday), the US people (and the electoral college) elected Donald Trump as the 47th president of the US. Now President elect Donald Trump (with his running mate JD Vance) defeated Vice President Kamala Harris by a large margin: 312 – 226 (270 are needed to win). Trump’s victory defied two assassination attempts, two presidential impeachments, his criminal conviction and many other criminal charges. He is expected to take office January 20th.
December
Individual
The family traveled to Germany and Greece to visit the boys for Thanksgiving. Many memories were made.
National
MLS
On December 7th, LA Galaxy (with ex-FC Dallas players Edwin Cerrillo and John Nelson) defeated the New York Red Bulls by a score of 2-1.
NCAA D1 Women’s
On December 9th, in Cary North Carolina, the University of North Carolina Tar Heels defeated first time finalist Wake Forest Demon Deacons in the D1 College Cup Championship. The Tar Heels have won 23 of the 43 editions of the College Cup.
NCAA D1 Men’s
On December 16th, in Cary, North Carolina, the University of Vermont Catamounts defeated Marshall University Thundering (winners in 2022) with a golden goal by a score of 2-1 to claim their first ever NCAA Division 1 Men’s soccer college cup. The game was high in emotions but low on technical level.
Global
POTUS:
On December 29th, Jimmy Carter (39th president of the United States), passed away peacefully at his home in California. In his attempt for re-election going against Ronald Reagan (VP George W. Bush) in 1980, Carter’s 49 electoral votes were the second-fewest for an incumbent president seeking reelection, with only William Howard Taft in the 1912 presidential election defeated more decisively. Jimmy Carter is the only president to have reached 100 years of age. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.
F1
On December 8th, Dutch driver Max Verstappen finishes 6th in the season-ending Abu Dhabi GP to claim his 4th consecutive World F1 title.
FIFA
On December 11th, FIFA announces that Morocco, Portugal and Spain will jointly host the Men’s 2030 World Cup, with anniversary matches to be held in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, while Saudi Arabia is confirmed as the host for the Men’s 2034 World Cup.
2025:
As stated a year ago, our intent was to expand our blog coverage to include more content about Joana. We did just that for the first six months prior to her ACL injury. As she recovers, we’ll pick that up this year.
Now that we have some months of recovery time, we have continued to try to pick up where she left off. She’s beginning to take the sport to a different level this upcoming year.
In December, Jogo purchased his first new car in the states just to have when he’s in town. Although rarely, car conflicts do arise when everyone is in town especially now that Joana became an official driver. I will take good care of it for you buddy 😉
Please reach out for any topics you would like addressed #theGomezway.
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We are very fortunate that football often takes us to new places around the globe. However, traveling to each location presents its own challenges (ex. cultural, geographic, political, financial, etc.) and pre-departure research is a must to make the trip a success. No complains, each trip leave us with lessons learned and anecdotes to share and a higher sense of appreciation for our home.
A few days ago, I returned home from visiting Johan with the US Olympic team in Marseille, France. We learned a few things that we hope you find useful for your next trip abroad (France and Spain specifically)
In the past, we had rented a car in Spain and Germany exclusively using our US driver’s license; however, we had never rented a car in France nor had the need to drive across to a different country (Spain) which called for additional requirements.
I rented a 2024 FIAT for the second time this year. This one was automatic transmission.
Some websites list an International Driving Permit (IDP) -which is a translation of your US driver’s license- as a requirement to rent and drive a car in Spain yet we never needed one but we have heard some stories… Based on our research, we found that we needed the IDP in France. The IDP (pictured below) can be obtained in the United States at selected AARP locations (and online) and best of all, it can be issued the same day. It costs about $20 (plus cost of 2 passport pictures that can be purchased at Walgreens/CVS).
While in France, I needed to drive up north to Donostia, Spain to visit Jogo. Thus, if one plans to travel outside of France, additional insurance coverage is needed. It is probably best to pay for this insurance upon physically acquiring the car at the counter. For Hertz, I was able to secure international insurance for an additional $20 for my entire trip (about 10 days) for the car above.
As it turned out, when I reached the counter at the Hertz office in Marseille, they informed me that the IDP was “nice to have” but not really a requirement. Therefore, if you plan to rent a car in France, do what you deem necessary. In this case, we ended up erring on the side of caution. Either way, check the rules/guidelines before your trip abroad.
Once I rented the car, it’s worth noting the number of toll roads across France. It’s convenient to carry cash to pay these tolls (about 100 euros from Marseille to Donostia). In any case, the trip was a succes in France and Spain and we’ll be returning soon.
I hope this information helps somebody. Until next time #theGomezway
I still remember that Saturday morning, August 31st, 2019 when Johan as a recently-turned 18 year old, was announced by FC Porto as their new youth international signing. Our family was at the nationally acclaimed youth tournament Plano Labor Day (north of Dallas) with Joana and the phone wouldn’t stop ringing. We received congratulatory messages from folks whom we hadn’t talked to in years. Some, casually texted to congratulate me personally (as if it were my achievement), while others casually requested an FC Porto jersey. Eventually, I think we fulfilled every single one of those jersey requests but I digressed…it was at that moment that it truly hit me, Johan (and eventually Jogo) was becoming a public’ish figure.
Johan signs with FC Porto 08.31.19
Just like any other occupation, the career of any professional footballer has its ups and downs; however, being a public figure is a tad different. As an example, it never ceases to amaze us how during difficult times (ex. injuries, lack of playing time, relegation, COVID, coaching changes, etc.), the same “friends/fans” who were extremely supportive in great times, go completely missing during tough times.
Among Johan’s long list of footballing achievements is to have played the Portuguese derby Porto B (1) vs Benfica B (1)
We understand that the popularity roller-coaster comes with the life of a footballer which, these days, is magnified by social media. But, from our family’s perspective, it’s probably prudent to share that any type of positive support is (always) more appreciated and welcomed especially during challenging times. I often tell the kids that rough times build character and it is also a time when true friendships are built and strengthened.
Recently, Jogo wasn’t playing much in the first few games of the 2023-2024 La Liga 2 season with his new club. It was understandable, at least for his family, as his loan was finalized late in the transfer window and he wasn’t present for pre-season with his new club. In any case, we hadn’t heard from many fans in a while. But in the last five games, he created an own goal, had two assists (see one below), and then two hockey assists and suddenly, he’s “popular” again.
In conjunction with Jogo’s recent contributions in La Liga 2, US Soccer announced that Johan was called for the US U23 MNT camp in preparation for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Suddenly, the calls pertaining to Johan once again, resumed to our family.
23 players are headed to Phoenix for the first U.S. Olympic Men's Soccer Team training camp as prep kicks off for next summer! The U.S. will face Mexico on Oct. 11 and Japan on Oct. 17.
This time, it wasn’t only the calls that resumed; our boys youth club Solar, for the first time ever, had an Instagram post dedicated to Johan (and our good childhood friend JT). Honestly, we had never seen his former club recognize either of our boys but hey, kudos of any form are always welcome, especially if it’s convenient for the club as well.
The Olympic camp went well (writing a post on it) and Johan even scored the first goal (below) against a superior Japanese team. Once again, the calls, messages, and tweets were abundant; even the convenient #DTID patreon tweets returned. Please don’t exhaust them all guys, we will need some of those in upcoming tough times.
As a favor to me, direct future congratulatory calls/texts to the boys. In Johan’s case, he’s the one who has fought for these opportunities the most, who went to Europe 4.5 years ago, who likely would have played in the Indonesia 2021 U20 WC until COVID chose to be a life protagonist and has opened doors for his brother and sister. Reach out to him, congratulate him; I am sure he would love to hear from you. Either way, please know that our family TRULY appreciates your support at ALL times but it’s inevitably most needed when footballing life gets tough 6000 miles away from home.
Johan Gomez: U16 BNT: U16s (3) vs Sacramento Republic (1) 09.08.16 (Sacramento, CA)
Yesterday, the celebrity world reminded us that public figures are humans and that they sometimes need help too. Mental health is important, don’t wait to reach out to other footballers (American or not) who may be going through difficult times (ex. Tyler Adams, Daryl Dyke, Josh Sargent, etc.). Be present, it can be a difference maker. Until next time #theGomezway #mentalhealth
Now that Messi has gained a lot of popularity in the US, it seems fitting to talk about his home country. As a first-time traveler to Argentina, there are many things that I would highlight from my recent trip to the latest Men’s U20 World Cup host nation -which was the main purpose of my trip. From the vibrant people and places to the rich cultural and historical aspects, this country has so much to offer.
A direct American Airlines (AA) flight departs daily at 11 PM from the Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) airport. It makes the trip very short if one sleeps through it especially because Argentina is only two time zones ahead of our central standard time.
The duration of a direct flight from DFW to EZE in Buenos Aires is 10 hours and 10 minutes
An all-male flight crew at American is not nearly as efficient and cordial as an all-female crew
Money
Under no circumstances should dollars be exchanged for Argentinean pesos at a US airport (ex. 1 US dollar is equivalent to 280 pesos).
1 US dollar is equivalent to 480 pesos if exchanged in Argentina the same day.
Be careful when exchanging dollars in any city at the famous “Cuevas“. Do it at your own risk. That said, cuevas will provide you the best exchange rate.
Spend all the pesos in Argentina as nobody will buy them back in the US. It’s an extremely devaluated and volatile currency.
Food
Argentines love their meat. Parillas, or steakhouses, are all over the country, and if you’re lucky enough to make friends with some locals, you will almost certainly be invited to an asado. It can be challenging being a vegetarian as the meat served is some of the most delicious in the world. Argentina is major exporter of meat to Europe and Asia. Red wine goes perfectly with meat and the country’s prime wine producing region is Mendoza which we had the pleasure of visiting.
City of Mendoza – Wine producing capital of the world
Argentines
Patriotism is engrained deeply. You will see an Argentinean flag in every corner. Disclaimer: I visited the country after the national team had won the Men’s World Cup where nationalism is at a new high.
The people of San Juan are top notch: welcoming, submissive, religious, and cordial. Overall, I was very impressed with their hospitality.
The people of Buenos Aires, like any big metropolitan area, live a rushed lifestyle. They are not as welcoming, or cordial as the people from other provinces. Survival of the fittest at its best is the motto.
Soccer (Football) is a religion. You will see many murals of Maradona, not so much Messi.
These signs (along with flags) are everywhere. It was very hard for Argentina to accept British defeat.
Transportation
Argentina is huge; have a plan that meets your available time. The plan should help you determine if a rental car is necessary. If so, renting a car in Argentina is very easy; one can do it at the Buenos Aires airport. If you don’t plan to visit anything outside of Buenos Aires, renting a car is not advisable as public transportation in abundant.
The same rental companies you find in the US can be found in Argentina
Drivers can use their driver license from their home country
Driving in Buenos Aires is like driving in any big urban city except that rules are just suggestions
All vehicles are required to have their headlights on; violators are subject to a fine.
Pick up trucks are abundant in Argentina. The pickup truck to car ratio is likely higher in San Juan than it is in Fort Worth, Texas. I was very surprised by that. Other than Mexico, I had never witnessed such phenomenon.
A lot of vehicles (mostly older trucks and buses) have a sticker in the back window that conveys the maximum speed (in Km/hr) allowed for the vehicle. See below.
If flying is the least expensive option to get around, know that a lot of airports outside of Buenos Aires are antiquated with one flight per day and in some cases one flight to your destination only happens every couple of days.
Gas was about 250 pesos/liter when I visited
Roads
Most Interstates (Ruta Nacional – RN) roads are in horrendous shape. Be sure your rental car has a spare tire.
There are toll roads everywhere. Tolls are not expensive but add up quickly. They vary from $100 pesos to $700 pesos (closer to Buenos Aires). Have change readily available.
Most roads are not ‘autopistas’=multiple lane roads; instead, they are single lane roads called carreteras.
Bump speeds are not as common; instead, they have something called “baden“
Football/Soccer
Football is literally a religion in Argentina. Everyone you talk to is a fan (expert) so be ready to be pontificated on the sport.
Messi is not as idolized as Maradona; there are plenty of Maradona murals all over the country
The majority of the first division teams are scattered around the Buenos Aires province. Limited first division football is played outside of a few provinces.
Argentina U20 vs New Zealand U20 game in San Juan, Argentina
Economy
The timing of this post happens to coincide with the increased attention Argentina is receiving these days; Messi’s decision to play in MLS (and his Leagues Cup title last night) has sparked additional interest from people all over the world to visit the South American country. For those who embark on a trip to Argentina, beware that the economy is very volatile, there’s a significant economic disparity especially in the provinces outside of Buenos Aires. Poverty oftentimes leads to crime which sometimes turns into “legal” robbery.
As an example, “trapitos” who are informal workers charging drivers money to “watch” cars in public spaces, can be encountered on free parking streets. When drivers refuse to pay for their service, they might return to their vehicle to find it keyed or damaged in some other way. Trapitos are mostly illegal unless they have an identification card on their chest. Should you find yourself approached by one and unable to leave, the best course of action is to give them a small sum of money. Many times, it can be negotiated down, around the peso equivalent of $0.75
Argentina's share of population living under the national poverty line.
The silver lining is that for a US traveler, the US dollar goes a long way; however, one must be extra careful navigating the streets of Buenos Aires. The locals constantly warn tourists of the potential risks. If you do decide to visit this beautiful country, consider visiting other South American countries such as Chile or Brazil. Also remember that while we may be enjoying a nice hot summer in the states, their winters could be harsh. Hope you found this article useful. Until next time. Be sure to follow us on Instagram. #theGomezway
Here is a quick recap of the game against Ecuador including my “commute” to San Juan, Argentina along with the usual pre and post-match behind the scenes stuff. Hopefully, some info and pics below are useful for future USYNT generations. Otherwise, if you are the casual reader, try to enjoy the content.
Trip
Dallas to Buenos Aires
My flight left Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) International airport at 9:20 PM on Thursday, May 18 (Match Day – 2). For an international trip, I normally like to leave at least three days before match day but it was impossible this time. It was a 10 hour direct flight to Buenos Aires; I arrived around 11:20 AM local time (2 hours ahead of Dallas). As we landed, my T-Mobile device took forever to receive a signal and I was beginning to panic. We rely so much on those mobiles and the trip to San Juan was going to be a long one without a working phone. As I made my way to customs, my phone service was restored. At last, panic mode was turned OFF.
Argentina is plagued with street murals like this one
Buenos Aires to San Luis
I quickly proceeded to the rental car counter (where I also exchanged currency -1 US dollar is approximately 460 pesos). By 12:30 PM, I was out of the airport driving to the province of San Juan. Due to the length of the trip (1118 Kms -~800 miles), it consisted of two parts. When I left, I honestly didn’t know how long the first leg was going to be…always love the adventure especially when I’m traveling by myself.
San Juan is about 14 hours away from Buenos Aires since 90% of the trip consists of one lane roads with very low speed limits (100 – 120 Km/hr). The first leg was a very dull drive of about 10 hours from Buenos Aires to San Luis (a different province/state) crossing 3 provinces (Buenos Aires, Cordoba, and San Luis) in the process. It rained (sometimes poured) for at least 8 out of the 10.5 trip hours. Leg two of the trip crossed two additional provinces (Mendoza and San Juan). FYI Argentina has 23 provinces/states.
Argentina’s 23 provinces/states
San Luis to San Juan
I spent the night in San Luis and the next morning, I left to San Juan around 6:15 AM for the last 3.5 hours of my trek. It was a bit of a treacherous drive as the first two hours were up in the cooler and foggy mountains, early in the morning (no coffee) and more one lane roads.
Game
As in any tournament, the most important game is the first one. The team knew it and they were mentally prepared for it. Ecuador is a solid team with excellent individual talent and speed at every position; however, they sometimes lack cohesion and discipline in the last third. To be fair, the roster they took to the South American qualifiers was a tad different than this group for the world cup. It was imperative that we won possession in the midlfield.
Pre-game
I arrived at San Juan’s AirBnb around 10:30 AM, took a quick shower and went straight to see Jogo at their hotel. It was 12:15 PM (game was at 3 PM) when I was picking up my ticket to the game from the front lobby and I used the opportunity to wish him well and possibly calm any nerves.
It was reassuring that he was perfectly mellow about his potential WC debut. He had known that he could be playing in a different role for a few days, practiced accordingly and was tactically ready.
Obligatory pre-match pic
As I was leaving the hotel, I said farewell to a few of the players as they were making their way to the bus. It was very moving (and emotional for me) to see how the non-coaching staff one by one lined up from the hotel exit all the way to the bus entrance, to high-five and wish each team member a heart-felt, encouraging farewell. The majority of the non-coaching staff rides separately from the players and coaching staff. This was another sign of the family environment that Mikey has created with this team in his short term as the coach. As I made my way to the car, I was hesitant to return to the AirBnb to rest a bit fearing that I’d fall asleep through the game since I was so tired so I made my way to the stadium instead.
Staff wishing players and coaching staff the best of lucks outside the hotel
I arrived at the stadium where I sat in the US section. Our section was pretty much empty except for one additional player family, the rest of the non-coaching staff, and two players who could not participate in the first match. Given the excitement, I really didn’t take any pre-match pictures until after the match.
Most of the crowd arrived after the ceremonies
1st half
The beauty of this game is that we all can have a different view point and that’s okay; thus much analysis is not needed as most of you witnessed what transpired. I’ll venture to say that we dominated the first 20 minutes or so and then Ecuador settled in and finished the half stronger than we did. Jogo had a good challenge with Nilson Angulo (#10) and I am glad they faced each other for their own development needs. It won’t be the last time they face each other. Did you all catch #19? He’s a 2007 born!!!
2nd half
Ecuador played a better second half with the crowd behind them all the time; fortunately, they never presented a real threat to our GK. The temperature was not extremely high; however, the sunlight hits differently here in San Juan. Our boys seemed a bit tired and the Ecuadorian players, accustomed to that climate, had the momentum especially in the last quarter of the game. Our subs came in, adjusted well, provided a much needed energy spark and they certainly made a difference. At last, we had won the first game of the 2023 U20 WC.
Post-game
I only saw Jogo for a brief moment after the game. Ironically, when he tried to approach me near the sturdy fence separating fans from players, the same fans who were strongly rooting against the US throughout the game were the same ones trying to fetch a jersey, selfie or even an autograph from the US players. In the end, I was glad we did manage to snap this selfie below.
I stayed after our game to watch the double-header game between group rivals Fiji and Slovakia. It was good to scout the level of the competition our team will be facing today. On Friday, the second header game after our match with Slovakia will be sold out as Argentina will be playing against New Zealand. It should be a good one to watch.
It was a hostile environment where 95% of the 14k in attendance were naturally rooting for Ecuador. Our boys were mentally prepared and had an importantly good first showing; they know that the task at hand will should become more and more challenging.
As they continue their journey in this tournament, please remember that no matter what happens in the next games, these boys are giving their best for themselves, their teammates, their families, their communities, their clubs, you fans, and last but not least, their country. At the end of the day, this is a game, the beautiful game. Let’s keep it that way. The outcome of a football match (tournament) does not define us as individuals and much less as a country, nor should it define their careers. After each world cup game, Jogo will still be buddies with players from Ecuador, France, Slovakia, or whoever they play in the competition. As fans, we need to understand that there will be good games and not so good ones, that’s football and we can’t do anything to change that dynamic. However, how we react to their performance is within our control. Let’s not become the type of fans who use the outcome of a match as a justification for questionable behavior (ex. Valencia vs Real Madrid, El Salvador) physically or online. We owe it to the betterment of the game in this country to act responsibly.
That said, thank you for the tremendous outpouring of love and support received in the past couple of days. It will never be forgotten but we must keep a leveled head there as well. It was a great first win but there are far greater challenges lying ahead. Only few will probably know that, unfortunately, in this ephemeral, competitive profession, the good days are hard to come for a footballer. As I share that with you, please be sure to reach out to all US players (especially those abroad away from their families), when things may not be going well during their seasons. I’m sure they will appreciate hearing your unwavering support during challenging times as well. In the process, you will be contributing not only to their mental well-being but also to the betterment of the sport in this country. Every bit makes a difference in the life of a footballer. As you know, the summer will have a few important competitions for the USMNT; start reaching out to some of those players now if you can with words of encouragement.
As I wrap this post up, I’m heading to the second game against Fiji. They will feel your support from afar and the other two families and myself will do our best to permeate the good vibes onto the field. As always, thanks for reading. Let’s go boys!!! #theGomezway
PS Before I head into the stadium, I will stop by the Red Bull Skateboarding Tour Event taking place in San Juan, Argentina. This event is a qualifier for next year’s Olympics in Paris. Football does take you to unexpected places and events sometimes. I am so grateful to the sport…
Yesterday marked three weeks since Jogo played his second USMNT game and his first 90. We are grateful for the opportunity; it was truly a blessing and an honor. That moment will occupy a very special place in our hearts as a family (and definitely for young Jogo). Documenting moments like these often helps relive them in the future when details become blurry..it also could be informational and motivational for others.
Last April, when Jogo made his debut with the Mexican Senior National Team, we wrote about his travel journey (in Spanish) from San Sebastián to Orlando, Florida. This publication has less detail about the family and more about Jogo. In it, we try to feature the continental commute to and from the USMNT camp headquarters out in California.
Note: In the following paragraphs, we hope to provide some behind the scenes transparency (mostly the arrival and departure journey for Jogo) without revealing potential sensitive information about the federation, their protocols or other players. On the other hand, it’s inevitable to neglect sharing details about the short amount of time that most players have together before they are expected to perform at a high level. Maybe it will set expectations for fans, friends and family members, and future USMNT players. None of that should be secret anyway. Here is a summary of how things transpired for Jogo…
League game prior to trip
While most January USMNT players had arrived to camp on Friday January 20th, Real Sociedad (RS) requested Jogo to stay in Spain for a Sunday, January 22nd, noon game despite the fact that he was not partaking in the game. Why you may ask? Two main reasons. The first is that he had sustained an injury/knock during the previous week’s derby against Amorabieta and he needed to rest in preparation for camp. The RS doctors wanted to monitor his progress for as long as possible while in Spain. The Amorabieta game, where he sustained the injury, was a rollercoaster of emotions.
Check out the highlights below; Jogo scored a goal and almost had two assists. However, shortly after his goal got called back, he sustained a non-contact re-injury due to the field conditions forcing him to sub out at halftime.
Amorabieta vs Sanse Highlights. Jogo’s goal and near assist
Despite the fact that Jogo would not play against Intercity on Sunday, the club informed the US federation that he would arrive Monday, January 23rd, morning (Match Day – 2 days) to camp in LA. The second reason for needing his presence for the Sunday league game was to fulfill one critical task the club delegated to Jogo. See, up to that point, he had accumulated four yellow cards in the season and a fifth yellow card would make him miss the next game. His mission, -which he was “strongly advised to accept“- was to earn a fifth yellow card from the bench in order to miss the next game that he was going to miss anyway due to USMNT camp.
Therefore, Jogo dressed up that game against InterCity with the sole purpose of earning a fifth yellow card to miss the next game against Rafa Márquez’s (and now Julian Araujo’s) Barcelona B. At halftime, Jogo figured out a clever way to earn a yellow card and voilá, he had accumulated his fifth yellow card of the season and now, he would serve his suspension game during USMNT camp.
San Sebastián to Los Angeles trip
At the conclusion of the Intercity game (around 2 PM San Sebastián’s time) where he *proudly* earned his fifth yellow card, Jogo showered -sweated his rear off earning that yellow- and within minutes he was transported along with his luggage from the RS’s facilities to Bilbao’s airport.
San Sebastián to Bilbao
The drive from San Sebastián to Bilbao is about an hour and on a late Sunday afternoon, there was hardly any traffic. Jogo reached the airport around 4 PM (One hour total trip time so far, Six hours since he left home).
Bilbao to Amsterdam
He showed his passport without any complications (more on this later), checked in his luggage, and off he went for his three leg, 27 hour journey to USMNT camp in Los Angeles. He was boarding a small plane around 4:30 PM for a 5:20 PM flight that would take him to Amsterdam. He then arrived in Amsterdam around 7:35 PM (Four and a half hours total trip time so far).
Amsterdam to Mexico City
In Amsterdam, he had a two hour layover. Around 9:44 PM, he was onboard the plane that would take him to Mexico City.
He arrived to Mexico City at 4 AM CT (11 AM San Sebastián’s time) on Monday morning. There, he met mom and his uncle to receive some important documentation. (20 hours total trip time, 25 hours total trip time since he left home).
Mexico City to Los Angeles
After the necessary family pictures, Jogo had a three hour layover before he embarked on the last leg of his trip to LA. Prior to that, he had a very nice Mexican meal at the airport accompanied by mom. After a 5 hour flight, he finally arrived to LA at 10 AM PST. (28 hours total trip time)
First training session (MD#1 -2: Monday)
Jogo was picked up at 10:30 AM PST and transported to the training facility. He arrived, dressed up, performed activation with the group for 30 minutes and then had a light 45 minute session separate from the team. His integration with team members took place after training. Kellyn, as usual, welcomed him with open arms. Similarly, Zendejas, talked to him about the previous time they trained together (Mexican National Team camp). The convo turned very funny and the DTID connection prevailed with them as well as Jesus and Paul.
Second training session (MD#1 -1: Tuesday)
The second training session was a short one too by design since it was “Match Day -1”. Jogo was extremely jet-lagged but integrated well and was very happy to meet up with his U20 teammates again.
Games
He learned that he would be playing (and starting) against Serbia on match day. We could tell it was unexpected and he was anxious. Honestly, what exacerbated the situation is that we all thought he wouldn’t play Wednesday and as a result his family wasn’t going to be around for the game. See, I assumed he wouldn’t be seeing any minutes against Serbia due to his recent arrival but that was not the case. I believe that part of the reason for playing the Serbia roster is because some of those players were in-season and Serbia, in theory, was a lower ranked opponent so it made sense.
US vs Serbia (Wednesday)
We would like to assume that most readers of this post watched the game so there’s not much to add. The game had its moments but at least initially, it was obvious that most players had not played together ever (or for a long time) and the lack of chemistry showed at times. Jogo himself grew into the game and went the full 90. Honestly, at one point, it seemed like Serbia would end up losing by a few goals but that’s why the game is played.
US vs Colombia (Saturday)
We learned that RS suggested USMNT staff to have Jogo sit this one out which was an easy decision due to rotations. RS was not expecting to see Jogo play in the first game and much less go the distance against Serbia. Easy decision, everybody’s happy.
Family
We had booked tickets already for Saturday’s game so we took this opportunity to go watch a game full of passionate Colombian fans knowing that Jogo wouldn’t be participating. At the game, we met up a lot of people whom we had not seen in a long time. It was also good to return to the same stadium where Jogo had made his USMNT debut against Bosnia-Herzegovina 13 months earlier. The game itself was very winnable with both sides having opportunities with US probably having more and clearer chances. In the end, the draw was probably a fair outcome and the atmosphere was very good. At the end of the match, we were able to snap some pictures with Jogo and some of his teammates.
Trip back to Spain
Jogo left the hotel on Sunday along with Paxten and the FC Dallas players (Jesus, Paxton, and Paul). They all ended up traveling together to Europe (Frankfurt) and then to Spain (minus Paxten). FC Dallas was doing pre-season in beautiful Marbella, Spain.
Jogo and Paxten Aaronson sat together on their trip to Frankfurt
The return trip was a bit shorter due to the two leg trip (and of course the rotation of the earth). Jogo and the crew departed LA on Sunday at around 3:30 PM PST, arrived to Frankfurt around 10:30 AM Monday morning (12 hours approx.) local time. Ultimately he reached RS’s training grounds (to pick up his car) at 7:30 PM (21 hours total). He was home by 8 PM with enough time to get ready for an early training session on Tuesday.
Health
At the writing of this publication, his knock has improved slightly. He still has inflammation but is able to play consistently on it. Doctors say that inflammation will eventually go away. At this point, I think he’s about 85% – 90% back. We’ll keep sending him good vibes for a full recovery. Thanks to those who have reached out to check up on him. Below is a clip of a highlight from last week’s game (after he returned from camp). You can find these videos in our YouTube platform or Instagram.
Next
What is next for Jogo is his club obligations. We are hoping he stays healthy and continues playing consistent good minutes in order to be considered for future National Team activities. For now, onto the next practice. #theGomezway
Ya en una publicación del año pasado, les habíamos compartido lo complicado que había sido que en el verano del 2019 el club de Jogo lo soltara para una convocatoria de selección juvenil Mexicana. Inaudito pero verídico. En esta ocasión, la Real Sociedad nunca puso alguna traba y siempre mantuvo informado al jugador sobre la convocatoria. De hecho, casi le rogaron para que acudiera a pesar de que la convocatoria era para un partido amistoso en una fecha NO designada por FIFA y además se podría perder un juego de liga.
Uno como aficionado tan sólo puede imaginarse lo gratificante que es para un jugador ser convocado (y además acudir) a un llamado especialmente de “la mayor” (ó como dicen en España “la absoluta”). Tal honor, a veces, involucra una logística impresionante y friamente calculada que puede parecer apresurada especialmente si el jugador viaja una distancia continental. Aun así, los aficionados merecen todo el respeto de dirigentes, jugadores, y cuerpo técnico y por más complicadas que las condiciones puedan ser, hay que salir a dar el máximo por los colores de la playera que se porte. Aquí les compartimos un poco de los viajes que tanto Jogo como nosotros realizamos a Orlando, Florida para cumplir con su única convocatoria con la selección mayor de México.
Todavía en España, Jogo jugó partido de liga (importantísimo para el tema de descenso) el Sábado 23 de Abril en casa (contra Amorabieta) con la Real Sociedad B (Sanse) a las 9 AM CT y dos horas después de concluido el encuentro, ya tomaba un taxi para trasladarse a Bilbao (1 hora de distancia de San Sebastián). En Bilbao, pernoctó para que a la mañana siguiente tomara un vuelo a Londres (escala de dos horas) a las 12 AM CT y finalmente arribara a su destino final en Orlando el Domingo 24 de Abril por la tarde-noche. El coordinador (Daniel) de selecciones nacionales, se sacó un 10 con el viaje de España a Orlando. El vuelo de regreso fue diametralmente opuesto ya que estuvo muy tardado y bueno, fue aquí donde Jogo apenas alcanzó a llegar al siguiente partido del Sanse y con ningun día de entrenamiento, fue directo a la banca. El precio de la convocatoria.
Así viajaba Jogo rumbo a Orlando desde Bilbao. Nada mal (04.23.22)
Prácticas/Entrenamiento
Por los tiempos tan limitados con el resto del grupo, las prácticas fueron bastante ligeras, recreacionales y culminaron con reconocimiento de cancha el Martes 26 por la noche. Jogo apenas si tuvo tiempo de conocer algunos jugadores, y cuerpo técnico e integrarse lo más pronto posible para el partido del Miércoles. A veces nosotros los aficionados exigimos “química máxima” en la cancha desconociendo lo poco/mucho tiempo de trabajo que un entrenador (en este caso Tata Martino no pudo acudir) tiene con sus jugadores. Como también es sabido, hay algunos compromisos comerciales que la seleccion nacional tiene que cumplir por temas con mas planeación económica que de índole deportiva.
Viaje familiar
La familia cercana, como siempre apoyando, logró alcanzar a Jogo en Orlando hasta el Martes 26 de Abril ya casi a media noche. En realidad, nos arriesgamos un poco ya que cualquier contratiempo con nuestro vuelo desde Texas, nos hubiera obligado a salir el Miércoles, mismo día del partido, y alguna demora adicional nos hubiera obligado a perdernos esta experiencia única. Gracias a Dios, todo salió bien.
Partida del aeropuerto de DFW rumbo a Orlando (04.27.22)
Arribamos al hotel donde se hospedaba la selección a las 11 PM hora local. Practicamente llegamos a saludar a Jogo, que justo terminaba sus clases de preparatoria del día y a dormir en otro piso. Brevemente le dimos las buenas noches ya que había que irse a dormir para estar listo para el juego del día siguiente. Las medidas de seguridad cuidando el entorno de la selección son excelentes.
Día del partido
El día del partido (Miércoles) nos levantamos relativamente tarde debido al ajetreo del día anterior. Bajamos a platicar con Jogo mientras gozabamos de un rico lonche en el hotel; en realidad, fue poco el tiempo pero memorable. Tan sólo pudimos convivir unos minutos ya que el equipo tenía actividades planeadas para el resto del día.
El gran amor de hermanos…
Partido
Ya por la tarde, así partía el autobús que escoltado por un dispositivo policial impresionante, llevaba al equipo y a Jogo al Estadio Camping World de Orlando con varias horas de anticipación al inicio del encuentro. Nosotros los alcanzaríamos horas después.
Ya en el estadio, así lucía el inmuelbe antes del partido. El encuentro, parte del MexiTour organizado por SUM, era el primer partido amistoso después de que México consiguiera el boleto para el Mundial Catar 2022 así que los aficionados estaban muy ilusionados de ver un cuadro joven y diferente. Por otro lado, Guatemala, comandado por el estratega Mexicano Fernando Tena, venía de 7 victorias consecutivas lo cual se apetecía como buen sinodal.
El partido en si resultó un tanto monótono por la falta de llegadas en ambos arcos. México dominó la mayor parte del encuentro sin poder ver coronada su mayor posesión. Al final del partido, ninguno de los equipos se hizo daño. Sin embargo, la familia la pasó muy bien en la tribuna con un ambientazo semi-familiar.
Debut
Jogo jugó pocos minutos como era de esperarse, especialmente porque hubo invasión de cancha en los minutos que estuvo presente. A veces los aficionados en un afán de divertirse, afectan a su equipo de forma indirecta (grito). Inclusive en la tribuna, la pasión de los aficionados se desborda a tal nivel que se torna en violencia no apta para familias. En fin, la idea de la convocatoria era para que Jogo conociera el entorno de la selección mayor y ese objetivo se cumplió.
Debut de Jogo al entrar por Erick Aguirre
Despedida
Al culminar el partido, nos reunimos con Jogo para charlar antes de nuestro regreso a tierras Texanas ya que partíamos de Orlando el Jueves por la madrugada (4 AM). No lo vamos a negar, las despedidas siempre son complicadas pero en este caso, sabíamos que veríamos a Jogo un mes después asi que eso nos recomfortó. Por su parte Jogo no partió rumbo a España hasta el Jueves por la noche. Cuestionable la logística de regreso pero en fin, era lo que había. Dados los tiempos y las escalas, no alcanzó a practicar el Jueves en San Sebastián y sólo practicó hasta el Viernes. La falta de entrenamiento con el Sanse le costó tiempo de juego el Lunes 2 de Mayo contra Valladolid (ahora ascendido a primera) y un poco la titularidad lo que sobraba de la temporada. En fin, esas cosas contrastantes tiene una convocatoria para un partido amistoso…
El después
Por nuestro lado y ya de regreso en casa, reflexionando sobre el viaje express, nos quedan muy claras dos cosas primordialmente: 1. El gran poder de convocatoria que sigue teniendo la selección nacional mayor a pesar de los resultados más recientes y 2. La reacción que puedan tener algunos aficionados para con Jogo (y nuestra familia) por solamente haber ido a jugar con la selección mayor de México un amistoso que a final de cuentas no decide su destino final.
Hay que recordar que el fútbol es tan sólo un deporte para aquellos que lo practican y un pasatiempo para aquellos que tan sólo lo observan. El fútbol nunca definirá nuestro nivel de nacionalismo, patriotismo y mucho menos nuestra personalidad. Afortunadamente, a través del deporte, podemos conocer a mucha gente y en ese proceso nos damos cuenta que las verdaderas amistades siempre trascenderán un encuentro de fútbol con selección X ó selección Z. Tengan por seguro que la camisa que Jogo porte, siempre la defenderá con honor y con el mayor deseo de la victoria. Por ahora hay cosas que están fuera de nuestro alcance y seguimos en esta lucha diaria y a la orden especialmente en días complicados. #theGomezway
No olviden seguirnos en Instagram para gozar de contenido más frecuente.
Now that international borders are pretty much open, I decided to pay Jogo a visit in Spain. It was a trip that had been in the works ever since Claudia and Joana returned from dropping Jogo off about seven weeks ago. They spoke highly of the Donostia-San Sebastián (from here on out, referred to DSB -for short) attractions so I had to come and experience it for myself.
Jogo and mom. How could you not want to go visit him?
For those of you who have inquired about the possibility of visiting Jogo, you may find this post useful or it may totally dissuade you from visiting him due to the logistics involved. Either way, it contains some relevant (somewhat detailed) travel information and some caveats. It’s worth noting that now, more than ever, airline prices are very competitive and you can easily book a $500 round trip to DSB as long as you plan it well. Jogo will gladly welcome you with open arms (especially if you bring him goodies) and likely even give you tickets to one of his games while you are visiting. This is how the trip to DSB and my first week is going…
Ticket to the Real Sociedad B vs Málaga game
United States
Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW)
A week ago today, I left home in Keller at 2:20 PM CST for a 4:59 PM CST Delta flight to Atlanta, GA. For a Thursday afternoon, the TSA lines at DFW were busier than normal but I made it through security by 3:05 PM CST which worked well with my football agenda. I then found a quiet place to work for about 90 minutes while watching the Leipzig vs Real Sociedad Europa League game and once it finished (final score: 2-2), waited a few minutes to board the flight to Atlanta. Unfortunately, the bad weather in Atlanta delayed our take off until 6 PM CST. Could that be a sign of what was about to come my way? I mean, everything had been carefully planned out but God’s plans always prevail…
Atlanta
After a 90 minute flight, I landed in Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport with plenty of time to spare due to an also delayed flight (things were not looking good already) to Amsterdam (more to come on the reason for the 2nd delay later) and although I had time to sit down to eat a full meal, I opted to just get a snack and work some more instead.
Our plane to Amsterdam finally took off around 11:10 PM CST (originally scheduled for 9:30 PM CST due to impending bad weather in the Netherlands) and off we went for 8 hours under very rainy Atlanta (not cold at all) conditions but at last, we were in the air.
Europe
The turbulence was crazy but that’s not the reason I didn’t sleep much during the flight. I even had the two available seats right next to me for extra space. The excitement of seeing Jogo perhaps was too much so I read, ate, and watched the second part of “A Quiet Place” for the second time.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is one of the many choices for a layover in Europe; others options are London, Madrid, Frankfurt, Paris, etc. To be honest, Amsterdam was a bit of a handful this time and I may not stop there in the near future.
We landed in Amsterdam around 1:30 PM local time (6:30 AM CST) and my next flight was on time and scheduled to depart at 2:25 PM local time (7:25 AM CST). As soon as I disembarked, I rushed to the other side of the airport, dashed through customs and made my way to the B terminal in about 30 minutes. All of this took place while the airport’s PA system was continuously announcing that all airport activities would be suspended for the day after 2 PM local time (7 AM CST) due to high wind tropical storm Eunice. Departing at 2:25 PM (7:25 AM CST) was very unlikely due to the announcements but at last, by the grace of God, they let us depart. We were literally the last plane allowed to take off out of Amsterdam and off we went to Bilbao…
It is worth noting that last time I visited DSB back in July with the family, we had a layover in Paris and that worked out well despite the spike in summer travel. Maybe I’ll try it again next time. Similarly, last month, when Claudia came over to accompany Jogo, their layover was in Frankfurt without any delays. Ironically, by making a Frankfurt stop, she was closer to Zwickau (Johan) than she was to DSB. She will be making a Germany trip to see Johan very shortly as well.
Bilbao
We landed at 4:58 PM local time (9:58 AM CST), and everything appeared okay initially until I was informed that the US is considered a high risk country so they had me take a COVID test upon arrival (I showed them all proper documentation of my 3 doses ). Fortunately, the test result was negative but we now had just added an additional 45 minutes to my already long trip. Honestly, I am unsure what the protocol would have been had I tested positive.
Line to take the COVID test at the airport testing center
Once released from the airport’s COVID testing center, I quickly headed to the luggage carrousel to pick up my checked-in luggage. Unfortunately, I found a static conveyor belt with only one bag similar to mine, it had to be mine, right?…well, it wasn’t and a lot of thoughts crossed my mind. Ultimately, I knew the situation in Amsterdam was very critical and was very certain that my luggage had been left behind there due to the narrow time window and more so, inclement weather.
I then proceeded to the KLM customer service counter at the airport and sure enough, they were waiting for me with very specific instructions to receive my luggage. I then filled out some paperwork, submitted a claim (with Jogo’s DSB new home address) and was informed that I would have my luggage within 24 hours. They weren’t kidding. I got it the next day in DSB.
Luggage-less, I then made my way to the small Bilbao airport’s public transportation area. There’s no Uber in the city so my transportation choices were limited: finding my own private ride, or public transportation (a bus/taxi) to DSB. It’s about a 100 km ride to DSB’s bus station and a pleasant ride. The bus is a greyhound style type of bus whose cost is about €17 with plenty of room even if you are traveling with big suitcases.
It was a no brainer, since I only had my backpack to carry, I opted to take the bus. To purchase a ticket for it, there’s a kiosk outside of the airport but a debit/credit card is needed (caveat: you will need your card PIN to complete the transaction). Since I didn’t know my CC pin, I ended up paying cash to the bus driver. Make sure you don’t have large denomination bills (ex. > 50) to pay for your ticket as change may not be readily available. During the ticket purchasing ordeal, I saw the “bad guys” transportation parked outside the airport which was a little puzzling. Players fly but the bus still makes the trip? Interesting concept.
This bus was awaiting outside the airport. Sanse’s opponents the next day.
Donostia-San Sebastián (DSB)
I finally arrived to DSB’s bus station of the paradisiac area on Friday evening 8:30 PM local time (1:30 PM CST). I did not get to see the sunset since it was dark already but here is what I was able to witness the next few mornings. It’s breath-taking. From the DSB’s bus station to Jogo’s apartment, it’s a 30 minute walk which I was glad to embark on since I’d been sitting down for so long. Plus, I needed the Fitbit steps.
Football
Jogo’s first game
The next day, Jogo got me a ticket to watch his game; it was very exciting to watch it live. Entertaining match for sure. It was Jogo’s home debut and I was able to watch him live which was my primary objective. He made the starting 11 so anything else didn’t matter at that point for me.
Much needed result by Sanse but we try not to emphasize results over journeys when our kids are part of the game. We have Twitter fans who provide plenty of expert football analysis. It was a great game for me to watch and the best welcome gift Jonathan could have ever given me. As some of you may know, watching the game live beats any other watching method as one is able to see the off the ball movement that cameras do not normally capture. Also, there are a lot of intangibles (ex. fans, weather, referee, etc.) that are not portrayed accurately on TV that ultimately impact the player and the game. Witnessing those live is priceless. In the end, Jogo had a hockey assist and a near goal-line save. It was the second time in the same week impacting the score line. Hopefully he can continue earning minutes this week.
Europa League knockout game
As I wrap up this post up, I am heading to watch the Europa League knockout match between RS and Lepzig at Reale Arena with Jogo. It will be the second time in the past three months that I will have watched Tyler Adams (if he plays). The previous time was against Neymar, Mbappe, etc. at Red Bull Arena in Lepizig for a Champions League match back in November.
My first time watching a Europa League game was a match between FC Porto vs Young Boys back in September of 2019 at Estádio do Dragāo. Porto beat Young Boys 2-1. Great football memories watching Tecatito et al with Johan.
This was the celebration of Porto’s 2nd goal. Young boys scored via PK.
Jogo’s next game
Sanse’s next game is in Oviedo. I am looking forward to this one as I will be riding the bus (6 hour drive) to get there. I’ll probably spend a couple of nights sight-seeing the Asturias area as well. For now, I leave you with some images of the DSB area. I highly recommend it. It’s a paradise down here and other countries (ex. France and Portugal) are very close as well to top it all off.
Surfing is a huge activity in the DSB area. Playa de la Concha
Chumchat
This week’s guest is Jogo’s good friend Kevin Paredes. He talks about his adaptation period, harder training in Germany so far, short and long term goals and somehow, I get mentioned in this episode too. Kevin also talks about things to fix in the US Soccer’s approach to recruiting players and closes out with his own definition of success and emphasizes the role his family has played in his journey. Give the Chums a listen, they are improving their content with each episode and best of all, it’s free. You will also enjoy the next two USMNT guests.
Thanks for the read and as always reach out with any questions, requests, etc. #theGomezway
The German market has become a very enticing spot for young American footballers. For some, it’s become a stepping stone to bigger or different football stages. In a previous post regarding our first trip to Germany, I started to list a few peculiarities about visiting and living in Germany so this is more of a follow up hoping players, and families alike find it useful when their footballers (or any professionals) visit or make Germany their temporary home. Beware, some of the characteristics listed below apply to other European countries as well.
There is always the obvious nuances: culture, language, weather (for us Texans), currency, location, football style of play, etc. However, there are some specific aspects within those nuances that us Americans sometimes take for granted. Having spent half of the last three months living in Germany, I have noted a few peculiarities that I would like to highlight and share.
Culture
There’s a very important aspect that I would like to point out about Germans; they are known for their pursuit of perfection. They adhere strictly to a set of pre-established rules and values (and expect the same) such as: respect, efficiency, honesty, punctuality, social awareness, and other textbook characteristics. Most of their activities revolve around these values. Thus, in order to create a first good impression, it’s important to understand and honor these traits. After all, you are a visitor in their country.
For example, it’s important to adhere to punctuality because it could quickly work against you. A 5 PM meeting doesn’t mean 5:03 PM or 5ish. Be on time (early if possible); at first, it may be difficult because most Americans are very loose on punctuality. Also, as a environmentally friendly culture, Germans rely heavily on public transportation, and chances are you will have to use it when visiting. Despite city size (big or small); public transportation runs like clockwork so always be on time. Note: Uber is not available everywhere.
Language
In bigger cities like Berlin or Frankfurt, English is more predominant, but don’t be fooled, Germans expect foreign nationals to attempt to learn their language. They value continuous learning and knowing a few common phrases can go a long way. Invest the time to learn something new everyday or prior to your arrival, if possible (reading this post counts).
Danke – Thank you
Please – Bitte
Guten Morgen – Good morning
Excuse me – Entschuldigen Sie, bitte
Sprichst du English – Do you speak English?
Ich spreche kern Englisch – I don’t speak English
Nimmst du Euro – Do you take Euros? (Important in Prague)
Ich bin Amerikaner – I’m American
Wo kann ich ein nei taxi nehmen – Where can I take a taxi (they don’t have Uber service in a lot of cities in Germany)
It may sound ironic that despite being surrounded by multiple countries, Germany is not as much of a melting pot as the US. It also depends the city you will be visiting or living in. Therefore, don’t assume everyone knows English given their geographic location. You may be in for a surprise especially in the smaller cities like Zwickau in East Germany.
At home we speak Spanish mostly with some English sprinkled in at times. That constant practice of multiple languages has enhanced our ability (verbal and written) to learn any Latin-derived language. Johan is fluent in Portuguese, I can read and write French pretty well, and Italian is extremely easy to understand for us. An outsider could think that we have the “learning a new language” skill down but that’s not the case with German…at least not yet. It’s not rocket-science but just like English, there are several regional variations of the German language. In my two trips to Germany, I have discovered that most older folks do not speak English -which forces me into conversational scenarios; seemingly, the older folks are not as good stewards as the younger generation to those of us trying to learn German. Be sure to have an translation app. or a dictionary handy when traveling.
After seven months of living there, Johan is now able to get by conversationally. Okay, he IS our son but he’s indeed a very smart young man. He recently started taking German classes (with Nico Carrera’s aunt) and will continue to improve everyday. He’s now acclimated to the culture and language. His teammates all speak English which has helped and of course, his coach Joe Enochs is American who is also fluent in German.
Homes
A lot of Germans live in apartments; that is because on average, Germans are more risk averse than Americans and are more comfortable leasing. Whether you own or rent, homes are not just smaller on average than in the US (I get it, everything is bigger in Texas) but they are also built differently. They are made of masonry which makes organic modifications to the building (interior or exterior) an elaborate task. Homes have to be designed efficiently from inception.
HVAC units
Most homes are not equipped with a central HVAC unit. Therefore, each room has its own heater (aka radiators). AC units are not common even in cities close to the sea (summers are very pleasant). It’s good to learn how to operate these units as the winters in some parts of Europe are harsh. Germany’s coldest months are January and February.
Dryers
Most homes do not have dryers. Thus, the player may need to learn how to hang dry clothes after washing them. The winters may pose additional challenges to hang dry clothes indoors. There are several reasons why dryers are not popular in Europe (not just Germany):
Energy hoggers: Dryers are appliances that consume a lot of energy. Germans in general are very environment-conscious plus, the cost of energy is high.
Fines: Some German cities impose hefty fines to high energy spenders; Germans not only try to keep energy costs low but also avoid legal fees.
Clothes last longer: Clothes fade less when not machine-dried and thus typically have a longer lifespans. Hang-drying is very common even indoors
Windows
Most home windows open inwards: longways or sideways. Not only are they different but they are more energy efficient than US windows due to their triple or quadruple panes. Also, they allow better ventilation and are safer. It takes some getting used to with their multiple turning positions.
Cars
German drivers are required to have extensive training before they acquire their driver’s license. This training equips them for a spectrum of situations and as a result, driving in Germany is safer than in the US. It is hard to imagine having an autobahn in the US. Most Germans own manual transmission cars; however, this could be a trend in other western Europe countries as we experienced the same in Spain and Portugal. Leasing, purchasing or simply repairing an automatic transmission car is more expensive than a manual transmission one. Thus, it also makes financial sense to learn how to drive a manual transmission car before heading to Europe. You don’t want the young footballer to have to worry about learning to drive a manual transmission car, getting a driver’s license and on top of that, learning the traffic laws all at the same time.
Driving
Traffic lights are different. The transition to a green light goes through yellow (amber) first. Red->Yellow->Green unlike the United States and Mexico. Always be alert, there are traffic cameras everywhere. Be sure to honor speed limits; otherwise, you can quickly rack up speeding tickets fines. Speed limits do not have much margin for error (like in the US +/- 5 Mph). This is especially true in smaller cities (just like in the US) where speeding ticket revenue is relied upon heavily.
There’s nothing significantly different from the police other than they are present but their presence is not intimidating at all; I have never witnessed anybody getting pulled over. That being said, the “polizei” sirens are unique. They don’t really wail like our patrol cars; they have more of a pleasant sound. When I first heard them, the sound reminded me of the many Pink Panther French inspector cartoons I watched in my childhood.
Gasoline
Gasoline is really expensive even compared to the most affluent areas in the US. A liter of gas in Germany (about 25% of a gallon) costs about the same as a gallon of gas in Texas. A few months ago, the average gas price in Southeast (Saxon) Germany for a liter was €1.65. With those prices, one has to make each trip count which brings us to their environmental awareness and their heavy reliance on public transportation. There are some cities in Germany where certain car models are not allowed entry. They have high car emissions standards.
Environment
Germany ranks in the top 10 in the world for green countries. Germans are very environmentally conscious. One can see wind mills everywhere; the stored energy is used for multiple purposes.
Unfortunately, as green as the country is and as environmentally conscious as Germans strive to be, if you are a non-smoker like me, it will be difficult to get away from second hand smoke. A lot of public places are setup to be very inclusive and it’s inevitable to avoid second hand smoke. Thus, having a meal outdoors to enjoy the awesome summer weather could require some getting used to.
WiFi
Speaking of public places, WiFi access (especially free) is extremely difficult to find unlike the US. Not only that, you will have to adjust your network provider’s data plan before you travel to Germany in order to get some decent cellular upload/download speeds. Otherwise, even playing a Twitter video will be impossible when not connected to WiFi. If you will reside in Germany, consider purchasing a phone and its corresponding data plan which gives you the benefit of having a local phone #.
Germany is beautiful. There are plenty of historical places in and around Germany for which you will want to take pictures and videos. Whether you are visiting or staying, make sure your data plan (and phone battery) is ready for all you will experience. We didn’t talk about the shortage of public electrical outlets in this post but those are also difficult to find so having an extra power bank is a good idea. You can revisit this post about “Going to trials, training stint? Checklist of what you may need Part 2” for additional peculiarities when traveling to Europe.
We will surely be visiting Germany (and other European countries) again soon. As we do that, we will continue to learn new “peculiarities” and will share them here. Until then. #theGomezway
#TheGomezway 