The 23-year-old Icelandic-American is a relative newcomer to the U.S. nationwide crew, however he does not really feel like an outsider. ASN’s Brian Sciaretta spoke to Johannsson about crew spirit and the World Cup
BY
Brian Sciaretta
Posted
June 06, 2014
11:55 AM
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FOR MANY SOCCER PLAYERS with twin nationality, there comes a time after they should select which nation they’ll symbolize internationally. And sure, the choice course of may be advanced and really private.
For Aron Johannsson, 23, that time got here final summer season when he was being courted by each the US and Iceland. Born in Alabama however raised in Iceland, he grew up enjoying for Icelandic youth nationwide groups. After exploding onto the scene within the Danish Superliga with AGF Aarhus, nonetheless, Johannsson caught the attention of U.S. nationwide crew coach Jurgen Klinsmann.
Two days after the US’ Gold Cup victory final summer season, Johannsson introduced that he would file his one-time change of affiliation with FIFA and symbolize the US internationally.
Ten months later, Aron Johannsson is on the U.S. World Cup crew and is now in Jacksonville in last preparations for the event. He insists that on the time he determined to make his swap, the potential for making the 2014 World Cup crew was not on his thoughts.
“No, not really,” Johannsson recalled of his preliminary World Cup ideas final summer season. “The dream was pretty distant at the time.”
The response again in Iceland was decidedly blended, and the nation’s FA president, Geir Thorsteinsson, launched a really vital assertion urging the general public to stress Johannsson to vary his thoughts. Over the approaching months, Icelandic soccer followers have regularly warmed to the concept Johannsson is poised to change into the primary participant of Icelandic blood to play in a World Cup.
“At first it was maybe not the best feedback I was getting,” Johannsson mentioned. “But I think now, they’re happy to have a guy going to the World Cup that was raised in Iceland. I can’t speak for all of the people in the country but I think most of them are very supportive.”
Iceland’s loss turned out to be an enormous acquire for the US as Johannsson’s 2013-14 season—26 objectives in all competitions for AZ Alkmaar—was among the many greatest showings of any American participant abroad.
Any doubt as as to if or not his aim scoring type at AZ Alkmaar can be carried over the U.S. nationwide crew had been rapidly erased within the first pleasant forward of the World Cup, when Johannsson, a late substitute, scored the ultimate aim in a 2-0 victory over Azerbaijan.
In the meantime Jozy Altidore, who’s forward of Johannsson on the U.S. depth chart, hasn’t scored for membership or nation in 2014.Johannsson is aware of the previous AZ participant Altidore fairly effectively from their enjoying days collectively in 2013. Johannsson even credit Altidore for discussing the optimistic features of the U.S. nationwide crew which helped in his resolution to modify his affiliation from Iceland.
He noticed Altidore rating 31 objectives in a season within the Netherlands and is satisfied a turnaround just isn’t far off.
“Jozy is a good player,” Johannsson defined. “From what I’ve been reading, he’s been getting too much bad media. He plays well. For example, in the game against Azerbaijan, he was holding the ball really well and connecting with players really well. He didn’t score and I know strikers are judged by scoring goals but you also have to look at how he plays in the game.”
“It’s strange, actually,” he continued. “When you’re in good form it seems like every time you hit the ball it goes into the back of the net. But on the other hand when you’re in bad form, it’s really hard to score a goal. It can give you tremendous confidence to just get that one goal. Hopefully that’s what happens with Jozy. He’s going to get that one goal and go on a run in the World Cup.”
“Everybody who plays this game knows that confidence is a really big part of soccer. The last year I played well scoring goals on a regular basis and that definitely helped with my confidence.”
Johannsson has loads of causes to really feel assured these day,s as he has simply signed a four-year extension with AZ Alkmaar and can now play beneath new head coach Marco van Basten—an enormous determine in soccer circles who has coached the Dutch nationwide crew and was among the finest European forwards of the previous 30 years.
With one other robust season within the Eredivisie, Johannsson might discover suitors prepared to pay a excessive switch price for his providers, however he’s content material to play at AZ. He cites the chance to play beneath van Basten as a key issue.
“I’m happy at AZ and I like being there,” Johannsson defined. “I would love to have a few more years there. If I do well, obviously, then I can go away if someone comes to buy me. But I’m happy there.”
“I haven’t talked to him but obviously I’m really excited,” Johannsson added of van Basten. “It’s the same thing I have here with the national team. He was a World Cup striker and one of the best of his generation. Hopefully he can help me to become even better as a goal scorer and I can continue scoring goals and doing well.”
For now, nonetheless, Johannsson is concentrated on the World Cup. With solely eight caps, he is likely one of the crew’s newcomers, however he feels fully built-in into the group.
He’s very shut with Combine Diskerud, one other twin nationwide who opted to play for the US.
“Aron is a cool cat,” Diskerud unhappy. “We hang out a lot off the field. That is probably why we connect so well on the field as well. We have the same type of humor. It’s fun to be with him and I like him a lot. If I can give him any assists, I’m happy for him.”
However the goodwill inside the squad carries over from the primary participant to the twenty third.
“Everybody is so open and so welcoming,” Johannsson mentioned. “I remember it from experience in my first time in Bosnia. After only two, three days, I felt like I was part of the group. For me there, there are no issues in the locker room. No problems, whatsoever. Everybody is trying to help each other and that’s what I think makes us stronger.”
“We want to be as one team and we want to be as strong as we can.”
Would you prefer to see Johannsson beginning towards Nigeria—or in Brazil? Share your ideas on the Iceman beneath.
Brian Sciaretta is an American Soccer Now columnist and an ASN 100 panelist. Comply with him on Twitter.
