Cooper Chooses Club Over Country

For months, supporters of the United States Men’s National Team have been clamoring for head coach Bob Bradley to call up Kenny Cooper. With the U.S. having clinched a spot in the next round of World Cup Qualifying, it appeared that Bradley was ready to give the 23-year-old a look in the USMNT’s game against Trinidad & Tobago on Wednesday – that is, until Cooper turned down the invitation.

A statement from Cooper was posted on the official FC Dallas blog:

“I feel so fortunate and honored to have been invited to join up with the U.S. Men’s National Team in Trinidad and Tobago. I made the difficult decision to pass on this opportunity because I had picked up a virus and have been playing with a sprained ankle. Considering the importance of my club’s game versus Real Salt Lake this week, and that the National Team has already clinched a berth in the next round of qualifying, I felt it was the right thing to do to stay in Dallas and make sure I get well, and hopefully there will be other opportunities down the line.”
The club had been contacted shortly after Saturday’s 2-2 tie against Toronto FC, a game in which Cooper scored both of FCD’s goals. The performance boosted the former Manchester United reserve’s total to 18 on the year, tying the club record held by Jason Kreis, and putting serious heat on the Los Angeles Galaxy’s Landon Donovan (19 goals) in the race for this year’s Golden Boot.