Norwegian-Born Player on U.S. Team Strikes Back at Abby Wambach’s Criticism of ‘Foreign Guys’

United States men’s national team midfielder Mix Diskerud, a Norwegian native, is striking back at famed soccer star Abby Wambach’s criticism that U.S. soccer has too many “foreign guys” imported into the sport.

Diskerud, a naturalized American citizen who was born in Norway and whose mother is an American and whose father is a Norwegian, took umbrage at Wambach’s comments, warning her to “think about who you try to disenfranchise.”

Wambach, America’s leading soccer star and one of the world’s best players, recently criticized the men’s U.S. soccer team saying that there were too many non-U.S. born players on the team and insisting that an American soccer tradition is being stifled with the large number of foreigners in professional soccer in the U.S. Wambach retired from the U.S. women’s team earlier this week.

She also said that she would fire U.S. men’s coach Jurgen Klinsmann for failing to help grow American soccer with his penchant for importing players. Wambach criticized Klinsmann for failing to focus enough attention on youth programs.

But the Norway-born Diskerud disagrees and took to his Instagram account to reply to what he apparently feels is a slight to his teammates.

“Wow Abby, I guess there are pros and cons in limiting the base for selection,” Diskerud wrote on Instagram. “You have just singled out a few of us. But why? Why are we your single oddballs? Think about who you try to disenfranchise. Because if you see us as the group to disenfranchise, then at least let it be known who we are.”

Wow Abby, I guess there are pros and cons in limiting the base for selection. You have just singled out a few of us. But why? Why are we your single oddballs? Think about who you try to disenfranchise. Because if you see us as the group to disenfranchise, then at least let it be known who we are. Stats and history will show – “our group” has more than others produced volunteer and defending soldiers for what, by us, is willingly chosen and gathered to be worth protecting: Your nation. Wish you would accept it as ours too. I know we’re not quite equal. From “your group of people” the country’s Commander in Chief need to be selected. However, other than that – you and I share something not unique, but constitutionally earned, a birthright to defend this nation as an American. Wherever we go. Led by whoever has earned, by democratic process, his/her right to lead, on or off the field, in peace, in war, in practice, or in any other kind of pursuit of your happiness. Enjoy your retirement. But stay active. We all need you. Oddballs or not. Mix

A photo posted by Mix Diskerud (@mixdiskerud) on Dec 17, 2015 at 11:15am PST

The player also noted that many foreign-born but naturalized Americans have fought and died for the U.S.A.

“Stats and history will show–‘our group’ has more than others produced volunteer and defending soldiers for what, by us, is willingly chosen and gathered to be worth protecting: Your nation,” Diskerud wrote. “Wish you would accept it as ours too. I know we’re not quite equal. From ‘your group of people’ the country’s Commander in Chief need to be selected. However, other than that — you and I share something not unique, but constitutionally earned, a birthright to defend this nation as an American.”

Diskerud concluded by wishing Wambach well as she retires from her professional soccer career and hoping she will remain active in soccer during her retirement.

Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston or email the author at igcolonel@hotmail.com