Giovinco, Pirlo call-ups by Italy show changing opinion of MLS in Europe

Italy coach Antonio Conte announced his squad for the upcoming Euro 2016 qualifiers over the weekend, and among the 29 players selected are two from Major League Soccer – Sebastian Giovinco of Toronto FC and Andrea Pirlo of New York City FC.

While veterans like Pirlo have been coming to MLS for one last paycheck for years, Giovinco's signing with Toronto from Juventus in January was regarded as a milestone for the league. Here was a 27-year-old striker in his prime coming from a team that was then on its way to the Champions League final electing to come to MLS.

Cynics decried the move as being all about money. Indeed, with a four-year contract worth $7 million a year, Giovinco became the highest-paid Italian player in the world when he joined TFC.

But Giovinco’s bank account isn’t the only thing that’s benefited from his move to MLS. With 17 league goals and 13 assists this season, his excellent form for Toronto has not been lost on Conte.

"Giovinco is doing very well in Canada," Conte told the Canadian Press. "He’s returning to the player we knew and he can be an important part of this team."

Meanwhile, Pirlo, Giovinco’s former Juve teammate, also apparently remains fixed in the Azzurri coach’s plans, despite his decision to join NYCFC at the age of 36.

"And Pirlo will be in there, too," Conte added. "I think he’s still a key player for us, and as long as he holds up and makes a difference on the pitch he’ll be with us."

Toronto FC general manager Tim Bezbatchenko called Giovinco’s call-up a "benchmark" for MLS.

"For the world to see that Seba is playing in Major League Soccer, with a club like Toronto FC, will help us reach the next level; a global scale," Bezbatchenko told mlssoccer.com. "For a national team like the Italian national team – multiple World Cup winners – to call him into a critical juncture, leading up to the Euros, is really a benchmark for the league."

Do Giovinco and Pirlo’s call-ups really represent such a sea change? It may be too early to tell. But there was a time, not long ago, when coming to MLS was seen, in Europe anyway, as effectively sounding the death knell on one’s international career.

In 2010, the Los Angeles Galaxy’s David Beckham went on loan to AC Milan, alienated Galaxy fans and wound up tearing his Achilles tendon. All in a desperate failed attempt to remain in contention for Fabio Capello’s England team for the 2010 World Cup.

Two years later, Becks was at again, trying to summon one last roar for the Three Lions by making himself available for Great Britain in the 2012 Olympics. (This writer, then a Galaxy beat reporter, remembers being in the locker room with a dejected Beckham after a less-than-inspiring performance in front of Team GB coach Stuart Pearce, who’d made the trip to L.A. to evaluate him.) Beckham would never play for England again. So it is notable that Pirlo, despite being roughly the same age now as Beckham was then, has maintained his place in a top-tier European side.

Looking elsewhere across the league – where Galaxy striker Robbie Keane remains a fixture for the Republic of Ireland, and Orlando City’s Kaka has been recalled by Brazil for a pair of friendlies – all signs do seem to indicate that attitudes abroad towards MLS are changing.

Despite all the excitement surrounding Giovinco's and Pirlo's call-up, it’s not yet clear whether Giovinco will actually make it onto the pitch for Italy. Although he’s already flown out to join the squad, Giovinco was withdrawn early from TFC’s 2-1 win over Montreal Impact on Saturday with what Toronto coach Greg Vanney said was groin soreness.

So while Pirlo is expected to feature at some level for this week’s qualifiers against Malta and Bulgaria, Giovinco is being evaluated by Italy’s team doctors.