No split loyalties for US star 'Jedi' Robinson

Antonee Robinson is determined to help the US go deep into the World Cup they are co-hosting (JAMIE SQUIRE)Antonee "Jedi" Robinson, the USA's Liverpool-raised left-back with a strong British accent, is laser-focused on helping his national team go deep into the World Cup they are co-hosting, and will have no soft spot for his country of birth when they kick off against Croatia on Wednesday.

>Since his debut in 2018, Robinson has become a lynchpin of the US team, solid defensively in their opening win over Paraguay but capable of spectacular strikes like his rocket against Germany in a recent friendly.

>"I wouldn't say I'd be cheering for England!" Robinson told AFP.

>"I mean, the boys who I know playing, I'll be hoping that they do well. But I don't really have a preference of what team does well in the tournament other than us," he said.

>Robinson's father Marlon emigrated to the US and became a naturalized American citizen.

>As a young child, he connected with his father's new culture by watching American cartoons, and is known to his teammates by the "Jedi" nickname he picked from "Star Wars."

>Robinson is one of several US players with links to England. Striker Folarin Balogun, whose brace against Paraguay got the US co-hosts off to a dream start, grew up in London, while Gio Reyna and Sebastian Berhalter were born in the United Kingdom.

>The US could play England in the knockouts -- a possible quarter-final if the Americans top their group and the English are runners-up.

>Robinson said he would welcome a rematch of the 2022 World Cup group game, which ended in a 0-0 draw.

>"If we got to face against England, obviously we played them last time, it'd be a nice rematch in a really tough game, and I'd hope we'd win it as well," he said.

>But "in terms of a team we'd like to avoid, I'd back us against anyone," he said.

>"There's not really one specific team I've looked at and thought 'I'd be worried to play against them.' There's quality teams all over the tournament."

>For Robinson, this World Cup's expanded format and longer gap between games has meant a better chance to acclimatize to the US and his national teammates.

>"It's really good for me personally... I had like a year-and-a-half off the national team for injuries and stuff, which was disappointing," he said.

>"So to get up to speed with how everything's run, and it feeling like a regular schedule, almost operating like a club, it's got a lot of continuity about it.

>"And I think that showed in my performance... We're enjoying the time we have together and making the most of it."

>The USA's next game is against Australia on Friday. After an electrifying opening win, raucous home support is expected at the always-loud Seattle Stadium.

>The Paraguay match "was one of the most fun games I've played in since I've been playing for the States," said Robinson.

>"I've spoken to (Seattle Sounders and US midfielder Cristian Roldan) and other people who said how much of a soccer culture Seattle has, and I'm really looking forward to experiencing that first-hand."

>amz/rcw