Bradley the Younger on His Senior National Team Experience

During the most recent round of U.S. friendlies, coach Bob Bradley gave his son Michael another run out with the senior national team. Not only did the younger Bradley’s assured performances brush aside suggestions of nepotism, they raised the question of whether Michael, 19, should remain with the U.S. seniors or return to the U-20s when international play resumes at the end of the European season in June.

Bradley, however, seems reasonably certain he’ll return with the U-20s to compete in the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada this summer. “With the Under-20’s, I’m one of the most experienced players on the team,” Bradley told Yanks Abroad. “When I go with the full national team, I’m just a young guy looking to get better.”

Perhaps, but this young guy found himself an integral part of both games against Ecuador and Guatemala, producing a standout performance against Ecuador in particular. “I feel like I went in with the national team and did a good job,” Bradley said. As for the calls of nepotism, he added, “As soccer players, you’re constantly under pressure to perform, and it’s not really something that I spend a lot of time thinking about.”The games were his third and fourth appearances for the national team.