Jordan and Charlie one of the more fascinating current figures in the U.S. Men’s National Team pool, French-based forward, Nicholas Gioacchini. Never called up for a National Team camp at any level before last November, Nico made the most of his first USMNT camp, scoring a brace in his first start to push the USA to a 6-2 victory against Panama.

The 20-year-old explained how he and his family have bounced back and forth between the United States and Europe, from Kansas City, to Parma, Italy, the Washington, D.C. suburbs and on to Paris. Along the way, Gioacchini developed a relentless style of play that led him to launch his professional career in France with Paris FC and later moving on to his current club, Caen.

His performances for the Ligue 2 side led to his USMNT call-up in November, but even though he was excited, Gioacchini admitted almost feeling “confused” by how quickly everything happened for him. Going from playing reserve football less than a year earlier, to stepping into the National Team with Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie, Gioacchini quickly dispelled any nerves with his memorable two-goal performance against Panama, saying that he knew he belonged after that.