Socceroos Find Unexpected Oakland Connection Ahead of World Cup

Oakland Roots left-back Jesus De Vicente has found a unique connection with the Australian national soccer team, the Socceroos, during their World Cup preparations in California. De Vicente, who hails from Valencia, recently had the opportunity to meet Socceroos goalkeeper Matty Ryan, a fellow Valencian player. Ryan plays for Levante, a club in the same city where De Vicente grew up and supported. The connection deepened as De Vicente's mother works with medical services at Ryan's club, facilitating a personal meeting.

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I was around for one of the practices and I was able to meet Matthew, Matty Ryan.

De Vicente shared his admiration for the dedication of the Socceroos players. He noted the immense effort required to be selected for a World Cup roster and the sacrifices involved, including foregoing vacations and spending time away from their families. "It's so difficult to be selected to a roster for a World Cup, and you just look at them and you're like, respect, how much work they've been through, their families, and even as a professional too," De Vicente said. He highlighted the importance of professional athletes' commitment to maintaining their physical condition throughout their careers.

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It's so difficult to be selected to a roster for a World Cup, and you just look at them and you're like, respect, how much work they've been through, their families, and even as a professional too.

The Socceroos are utilizing the Oakland Roots and Soul Sports Club facility for their training camp. This facility, which previously housed the Raiders NFL franchise, boasts a high-quality playing surface. Marc Logan, whose company is responsible for the field's maintenance, expressed pride in hosting the Australian team. Despite Spain being a World Cup favorite, De Vicente admitted to rooting for the Socceroos due to his newfound connection with Ryan, stating, "I'm obviously Spanish, but since I have this new friendship with Matthew, I want them to do well."

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I'm obviously Spanish, but since I have this new friendship with Matthew, I want them to do well.