No one desires to be in a third-place sport—particularly not a workforce favored to win the championship. ASN’s Brooke Tunstall spoke with a number of American gamers after yesterday’s loss to Panama.
BY
Brooke Tunstall
Posted
July 26, 2015
11:00 AM
SHARE THIS STORY
CHESTER, Pa.—Whereas Jurgen Kllinsmann was giving his post-game press convention at PPL Park, the Panamanian gamers could possibly be heard celebrating their penalty kick victory following a tie sport within the comfort match of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Later, when the Panamanian gamers exited the combined zone, fortunately taking questions from the Spanish-speaking media, bronze medals hanging from their necks, the few U.S. gamers who would deal with the English-speaking media appeared to take the US nationwide workforce’s worst displaying at a Gold Cup in 15 years in stride, brushing apart the frustration.
Maybe as a result of neither workforce actually wished to be taking part in within the comfort sport within the first place, few from the U.S. workforce appeared bothered by the consequence, even when meant leaving emptyhanded.
“This game today had a weird feeling for both sides,” Klinsmann mentioned. “We wanted to just to make sure nothing bad really happens there and let’s just get it done. I’m not blaming any players if mistakes were made.”
Most American gamers opted to not discuss to the media within the combined zone, together with defender John Brooks, whose depressing event continued Saturday when he was outmaneuvered by Panama’s Roberto Nurse within the fifty fifth minute to place the U.S. in a 1-0 gap. A 12 months in the past, after scoring the game-winning aim towards Ghana within the World Cup, Brooks eagerly entertained the reporters awaiting him post-game in Natal however he refused to talk to the press throughout this event as he made gaffe upon gaffe.
Brooks would do properly to be taught from teammates like Ventura Alvarado, who after poor video games earlier within the event didn’t duck reporters’ questions, or veteran teammates like Brad Guzan and DaMarcus Beasley, who struggled in peanlty kicks.
“I feel bad, I feel bad for the team, I feel bad for the fans because I missed my penalty to lose the game,” Beasley instructed reporters. “So like I said, I just tweeted that this is going to hurt for a while personally for me.”
With the U.S. being once more outshot—it had the fewest photographs of any workforce, together with a Canada aspect that didn’t rating a aim within the group stage—Guzan made 9 saves throughout the run of play and one other within the shootout.
“I think it was obviously a weird atmosphere for everybody,” Guzan mentioned. “I’m not taking anything away from [Panama] because they won the game and that’s what it’s about. I don’t think it’s our best performance by any means.”
BEASLEY OPEN FOR A RETURN
Beasley got here out of worldwide retirement to play on this Gold Cup and main as much as the Panama sport U.S. Soccer indicated right this moment’s match, which he entered firstly of additional time, could be his final.
Or possibly not…
“I said right after the game in the locker room, I said, ‘Beas, I don’t know if you can walk out like that. We might have to get you back in,’” Klinsmann said. “And the blokes had been clapping, as a result of they love him—the locker room loves him.”
“I am not going to say I’m retired again,” Beasley mentioned. “I’m sure I’ll speak to Jurgen and see what he’s thinking for the future. But it depends on how I’m playing. I don’t feel old, I feel fit, I feel ready to play. So if Jurgen wants to give me a call again, that’s a conversation we’ll have.”
Klinsmann mentioned that Beasley will make the decision.
“It depends on him. He made that decision a year ago, he came back for the team,” Klinsmann mentioned. “The plan was for the knockout stage. It didn’t work out because of the strain but from my end I’m always open.”
GUZAN READY FOR HOWARD’S RETURN
For the primary time in a nationwide workforce profession that started in 2006, Guzan got here into the Gold Cup because the No. 1 U.S. goalkeeper. Aside from a shaky jiffy towards Jamaica he performed properly and possibly had his finest sport towards Panama.
Tim Howard, the Everton goalkeeper who had been the U.S. No. 1 since 2007, took the previous 12 months off from worldwide play following final summer time’s World Cup however indicated lately he plans to return to the nationwide workforce.
Guzan welcomes the problem for the No. 1 spot.
“I’m hopefully coming into the best years of my life in terms of goalkeeping,” Guzan mentioned. “I really feel prepared. I really feel assured. I’m excited in regards to the future. I’m certain (Klinsmann will) decide a technique or one other.
“However for me it’s about making an attempt to assist the blokes in entrance of me. It’s about making an attempt to win video games and clearly making an attempt to provide the blokes in entrance of you an opportunity to win the sport and also you try this by making saves. I believe it’s at all times been a battle. Once you’re a goalkeeper, solely one in every of you’ll be able to play. Going ahead I’m certain Jurgen will make that call.
“We’re mates after all however we’re aggressive. We each wish to play. That’s not a secret. It’s plain and easy. You don’t turn into knowledgeable by desirous to turn into a No. 2.”
Klinsmann refused to say what Howard’s position with the workforce will probably be going ahead and praised Guzan.
“I will have a phone call with Tim, probably next week, and also with Brad, and see how we want to move forward,” Klinsmann mentioned. “Brad kept us in the game with a couple of tremendous saves. We allowed defensively too many chances. There’s no doubt about it.”
YEDLIN THE ALL-STAR
Regardless of now not taking part in in Main League Soccer, De Andre Yedlin is leaving Philadelphia for the MLS All-Star sport this week, the place his membership workforce, Tottenham Hotspur, is taking part in an all-MLS roster.
“It will be fun and I’m looking forward to it,” mentioned Yedlin, who assisted on the Clint Dempsey’s seventieth minute aim Saturday.
Yedlin performed restricted minutes for Spurs after becoming a member of the workforce in January and should have a robust preseason to earn extra taking part in time. “I don’t know what they want my role to be but I’ll go in there and give it my best and hopefully do well.”
Yedlin and Brooks are the one two U-23 eligible gamers on the Gold Cup roster, that means each are age-eligible for the 2016 Olympics. CONCACAF’s Olympic qualifying event begins in early October and can battle with the senior nationwide workforce’s playoff for a spot within the 2017 Confederations Cup on Oct. 9.
Yedlin mentioned he had no desire which competitors he performs in. “Wherever they need me.”
WORLD CUP QUALIFYING
In worldwide soccer, the subsequent occasion is at all times across the nook. So on the identical day the People ended their participation within the Gold Cu they realized its opponents within the semifinal spherical of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, which begins in November.
The U.S. was drawn into a bunch that includes Trinidad & Tobago, which received Group C at this 12 months’s Gold Cup earlier than falling to Panama in penalties within the quarterfinals. The Soca Warriors made the 2006 World Cup however didn’t advance to the ultimate spherical of World Cup qualifying 4 years in the past.
The U.S. may also face the winner of play-ins between Guatemala and Antigua & Barbuda, in addition to amatch between Aruba and St. Vincent & The Grenadines.
The U.S. will play every workforce in its group, dwelling and away, with the highest two groups from three semifinals will advance to the ultimate hexagonal spherical that can decide CONCACAF’s entrants within the 2018 World Cup. The dates of the ties are Nov. 13 and 17; March 25 and 29, 2016; and Sept. 2 and 6, 2016. Matchups and places won’t be decided until after the third spherical play-in video games.
