You don't have foreign players on a national team, that's why it is a national team. US has some incredible talent now too. Their keeper is one of the best in the world. Landon Donovan is also pretty dominant, not on the level of more prominant foreign players, but certainly not someone you can overlook...
I don't think there is any arguement that can be made for passion either. When soccer is your life, as it is for all of these professional athletes, I doubt passion is an issue.