MOVING TO THE SOCCER POWERHOUSE:

Stuart Holden's American World Cup dream (Paul Forsyth, 11/15/09, The Scotsman)

STUART HOLDEN'S family moved to the United States when he was ten years old. The young Aberdonian didn't know it then, but Scotland's national team were destined to make only one more appearance on the game's biggest stage before disappearing into the wilderness.

Across the Atlantic, the country where he would grow up was heading in the other direction, about to qualify for the third of six consecutive World Cup finals. For a young footballer with big ambitions, it was the right move at the time.

At least, that's the way it looks 14 years later. As another qualifying campaign draws to a close, with Scotland not even fit for this weekend's play-offs, those who have already booked their place in next summer's finals include a US team with a lad by the name of Holden in their ranks. He is 24 now, with a Texan drawl and American citizenship, but it's the same Holden all right, born in Scotland, to a Scottish mother, with a Scottish accent to turn to when the mood takes him.