There’s no entitlement or ego at Camp Klinsmann, especially this week. “Now, obviously the focus has shifted and we are zoomed in on the CONCACAF Cup and qualifying for the Confederations Cup 2017 in Russian Federation”.
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“The bigger picture is to get some answers for how we put things together for the Mexico game a month from now”, Klinsmann said.
Klinsmann can’t afford to be patient or to play favorites, and veterans will have to earn their place. Jones will, however, play at Gillette Stadium in the coming weeks as the U.S. faces Brazil in Foxboro on Tuesday, September 8.
It’s a lot for Klinsmann to work through, and there’s not much give in the schedule.
“This is about proving a point”. “It’s tough. But you try to see stuff, [so] when you come back the next time you can help and go forward and make the team the same shape or same level that we played in the World Cup”. “That’s how it should be”.
Another defensive midfielder who stood out in MLS was Jermaine Jones, who was an absolute force in the middle of the park for the New England Revolution in their 1-0 road win over Philadelphia.
“We know this is like a final, we want to win that”. He became cap-tied to the U.S. after starting in the first match of the Gold Cup against Honduras on July 7. Working against them: a potential lack of continuity and chemistry with those who’ve been with the national team more consistently.
Howard, 36, has not appeared for the U.S. since the 2014 World Cup, where he made 18 saves in a round of 16 game that the Americans lost to Belgium. The 25-year-old striker has been tracked by Klinsmann and his staff for two years and has started the 2.Bundesliga season off strong, scoring five goals in five matches for Sandhausen.
Besler and Cameron rejoin a U.S. center back pool that also features Gold Cup starters Ventura Alvarado and John Brooks as well as Omar Gonzalez, Michael Orozco and Tim Ream. Although the U.S. disappointed at this summer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup, suffering an upset loss to Jamaica in the semifinals, certain players have taken advantage of the veterans’ absences and risen up Klinsmann’s pecking order.
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Forward Andrew Wooten is getting his first call-up to the U.S. national team for the exhibition against Peru, with Clint Dempsey and Michael Bradley staying with their Major League Soccer teams. This week, at least, those permutations could include playing a central defender on the flank.
