Years ago, there were two boys who shared the same dream: to play professional soccer.

They both grew up in New Jersey loving the sport and everything Italian. They spent their Sundays watching soccer on RAI, an all-Italian television network. As teenagers, they both had the opportunity to combine their love for Italy and soccer, and crossed the globe to try out at the youth academy in Parma, Italy.

However, only one of these boys made it past the camp, moved his life to Europe to pursue a career in professional soccer and was invited to train as a member of Italy’s 28-man preliminary roster for the 2010 World Cup. He is Giuseppe Rossi.

The other boy in this story is Bernard Burns. Burns still plays soccer, just not like Rossi. After leaving Italy and soccer on his own terms, he grew up to become a pilot and kicks the football around on weekends in two Chicago soccer leagues.

“There is no doubt in my mind I would be playing professional soccer if I had stayed in Europe,” said Burns, who moved to Chicago from New York two years ago. “I played the best I have ever played when I was in Europe. [In the U.S. and in Europe] There are two different mindsets and styles of play. Over there soccer is a chess match; the goals aren’t as exciting as the actual play. In the U.S., the goals are all that matter.”

With the 2010 World Cup underway, Burns is able to look back fondly on his Italian adventure, although it wasn’t always that way. After finishing college, and his organized soccer career, Burns was unable to play or watch the sport for several years.

“I couldn’t watch it or even be around it,” he said. “I was finally able to realize that I’m left with all these great memories thanks to soccer. I had the chance to go overseas and do something I love. If anything, I now have a greater appreciation for the sport. I owe everything to soccer, for giving me that experience.”

Burns grew up in Rahway, N.J.-about 45 minutes from where Rossi was reared-and was a 16-year-old forward playing for St. Joseph’s High School when a scout affiliated with Parma’s youth academy invited him to attend the camp in Italy.

“He was taking a few people over there with him and wanted me to be one of them,” said Burns, who added that he agreed to do so for two reasons. “Even at that age, I knew the opportunity was a gateway to playing professional soccer. It also gave me a chance to live outside of the U.S. and explore a different culture firsthand rather than as a tourist.”

Burns spent his summer of 1998 at the academy in Parma, which Rossi would attend five years later. It was here-on his very own field of dreams in which he played with soccer stars like Fabio Cannavaro and Gianluigi Bufon, both of whom are playing on Italy’s 2010 World Cup team-where the New Jersey native (one of just five Americans at the camp) realized there was a greater meaning to life off the pitch.

“I realized that soccer would be my entire life,” he said. “Whoever plays at that level, it’s their life. From the moment you wake up to the moment you go to bed, you are thinking of soccer. And when you’re sleeping, you dream about it.”

One of Burns’ best experiences and lessons learned while in Italy came when he was sitting in a marketplace in Florence, where he spent time with a little boy who was happily playing with his toys.

“It was like an epiphany,” he said. “It showed me that while I love soccer, there is so much more to this world than it.”

Burns said that remembering moments like that reminds him of why he now views soccer as both a privilege and a pilgrimage.

“Just touching the ball and sharing the game with someone else or introducing a kid to soccer, I know that’s what I am supposed to do now,” he said.

While the thought of coaching hasn’t exactly crossed his mind, he is open to the possibility.

“Someday,” he said. “I’m not done playing yet.”

As far as the 2010 World Cup is concerned, Burns said he will root for the United States, but the Azzurri (the nickname for Italy’s national team meaning “blue,” the color of the royal House of Savoy) will always have a special place in his heart.

“Italy is in a pretty tough group,” said Burns. “I think they will make it out of their group and maybe to the quarterfinals. I ultimately think either Brazil or Spain will win it all.”

Italy is defending its 2006 World Cup title, and looking to repeat as champions in South Africa. In fact, the Azzurri is the only squad in World Cup history other than Brazil who has ever retained the Cup, winning it in 1934 and 1938.

But they’ll will have to do it without Rossi; head coach Marcello Lippi announced June 1 that the 23-year-old forward didn’t make the final cut for Italy’s 23-man national team. Although Rossi won’t be playing in the World Cup this summer, Burns does expect big things from him in the future, and at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

“I think Rossi will show the world what he is capable of,” Burns said. “Italy is an interesting team. They have very old vets and a lot of new guys like Rossi. I think Rossi will show his skills and he’ll take the torch from the older guys.”

Burns is confident in his prediction for one reason in particular:

“He’s from Jersey,” Burns said. “Of course he’ll take the torch!”

For the two men, all roads eventually lead back to two things: New Jersey and soccer.