Ndamukong Suh grew up around futbol, since his father was a former professional player in Cameroon. And the Lions defensive tackle sees the similarities to his version of football.
Suh was in Brazil yesterday for the United States’ 2-2 draw with Portugal, and in a pair of interviews, said he sees the similarities between the games.
“The USA team has been great to watch,” Suh said, via the Detroit Free Press. “In a true team sport like American football and, obviously, European and world football, as I know it, from my dad, it’s just all about how good your team is as a whole.”
That’s interesting, considering Suh’s occasional offseason visits to be with his team as a whole.
Suh joked that when he was playing, he didn’t like all the back-and-forth running, which makes sense given his size.
But he said the player he most identifies with is Italian striker Mario Balotelli, one of the most colorful players in the game (who crashes cars and once set fire to his bathroom with fireworks).
“He’s very, very passionate,” Suh said of Balotelli. “He’s gone through a lot of trials and tribulations and, obviously, a lot of racism in Italy. It’s been tough for him. But he’s had a great family that’s brought him in.”
Suh has also has some problems, some self-created. And like Balotelli, they’ve sometimes obscured his incredible talent.
