There’s a good reason for the strong international contingent the Boston Breakers will field in their home opener Sunday.
Foreign-born players, coach Tony DiCicco said, are a great benefit to his Breakers (1-0 after Saturday’s season-opening win over Washington).
“They grew up in a soccer culture,” said DiCicco, a New England native who coached the U.S. women’s national team in the 1990s. “They constantly see the game. They can read it well.”
Naturally, then, Boston carries five international players on its roster — the most allowed in Women’s Professional Soccer. Forwards Sarah Walsh (Australia) and Laura del Rio (Spain) are new; the others — Fabiana (Brazil), Kelly Smith (England) and Alex Scott (England) are vets.
Don’t look for national rivalries here.
“The U.S. players take the international players under their wing,” Scott said. “They feel a responsibility to look after us, which is great.”
