"It's because we aren't spending our career getting our knees kicked out," Carlos said. "I can practically read a book back there." That is, of course, pure bullshit. Keeping hasn't been that level of boring since he graduated from little league. But it was true that it wasn't quite as injury prone as the forwards. It gave him a longer career, as long s he could be patient for it.

"Stanford did a tournament in Edinburgh last year," he said instead. "And I've done a few USMNT matches, once in London, once in Manchester." And several across Europe - though he'd liked Seoul best. "But no, can't say Liverpool and I have had the pleasure." He waved Gael into a tiny storefront. "Hola, Paulina," he says. "Te traje un hambriento."