A fringe participant when the yr started, the Norwegian-American playmaker established himself as a gentle contributor for the U.S. nationwide workforce in 2013. Is a World Cup invite subsequent?
BY
Brian Sciaretta
Posted
November 19, 2013
10:27 AM
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VIENNA—When the Hexagonal World Cup qualifying event started in February, Steve Cherundolo and Timothy Chandler had been the highest proper backs. Carlos Bocanegra wore the armband because the workforce’s captain, and Danny Williams began within the midfield. Herculez Gomez performed a key function within the assault whereas Landon Donovan’s future was in limbo.
9 months later, the American aspect is having fun with its finest season ever, having received the Gold Cup and qualifying simply for the 2014 World Cup. However most of the gamers who started the yr with the primary unit have been changed. Omar Gonzalez and Matt Besler at the moment are the first-choice starters in central protection. Aron Johannsson seems to be just like the workforce’s finest striker. Landon Donovan is again. And the midfield has been rejuvenated by the likes of Alejandro Bedoya and Combine Diskerud.
For Diskerud, 23, this was the kind of yr many anticipated of him when he first started taking part in for america on the U-20 degree in 2009. United States head coach Jurgen Klinsmann named Diskerud to his Gold Cup roster and the Norwegian-American has been a constant contributor to the squad ever since.
What’s extra, Diskerud has change into one thing of a superb luck allure for the Individuals. The US has by no means misplaced a match that Diskerud has appeared in, and his private report with the nationwide workforce is 12-0-3.
“It’s been a huge year,” Diskerud told American Soccer Now. “It’s been kind of my breakthrough as you can say. To be part of the Gold Cup and from there it’s just been upwards. I’ve been part of every camp since them. It’s been fun and a year with a lot of wins as well.”
The spotlight of Diskerud’s yr got here in September when the Yanks clinched a World Cup spot with a 2-0 win over arch-rival Mexico. In that recreation, Diskerud had a spotlight reel help when he beat his man on the appropriate aspect and located Donovan in entrance of the purpose for an open rating.
On Friday in opposition to Scotland, Diskerud got here on within the 62nd minute of a 0-0 draw. Previous to him getting into the sport, the U.S. regarded torpid and missing in ambition, however the recreation modified when he got here on alongside Brek Shea and Aron Johannsson. From that time on the U.S. had the higher probabilities and had extra possession in midfield.
If Diskerud is to see minutes subsequent summer time on the World Cup, an enormous check might be for him to develop chemistry with the workforce’s different beginning central midfielders, Michael Bradley and Jermaine Jones. With Klinsmann preferring the 4-2-3-1 formation, Jones and Bradley sit in entrance of the protection leaving Diskerud to play centrally in a extra attacking function.
Diskerud respects the expertise of Jones and Bradley and he typically spends time with them throughout nationwide workforce camps, selecting their brains and following their lead.
“Every day I try to learn from them,” Diskerud stated of Bradley and Jones. “They’re professional players both on and off the field. I see what they do and try to do it myself. It’s very, very much a learning experience.”
Born in Norway to an American mom and a Norwegian father, Diskerud is a dual-national who had choices when it got here to his worldwide play. He performed often with Norwegian youth groups throughout his teenage years, taking part in friendlies and even taking part in in opposition to america at one level.
In 2009 Diskerud made the choice to play completely for america after U.S. Underneath-20 head coach Thomas Rongen invited him to that yr’s World Cup in Egypt. Diskerud made his nationwide workforce debut on the finish of 2010 for a pleasant in opposition to South Africa, the place he assisted on Juan Agudelo’s game-winning purpose in a 1-0 win.
Since then, Diskerud’s taking part in time for the U.S. has been sporadic. He was a part of america U-23 workforce throughout its unsuccessful marketing campaign to qualify for the 2012 Olympics. However he was not cap-tied till earlier this yr, when he performed for america within the Gold Cup.
4 years in the past, Diskerud was a little bit of an oddity for the American aspect. Born and raised overseas, he developed his recreation inside the Norwegian system after which pledged his allegiance to america. Again then, most of his teammates hailed from the U.S.
Now when he seems to be round at his teammates, Diskerud notices that there are a lot of gamers who adopted an analogous trajectory. His roommate in Vienna, Aron Johannsson, was raised in Iceland. Jermaine Jones, Terrence Boyd, and John Brooks had been all born in Germany.
“I think it’s an American thing,” Diskerud defined. “You feel really welcome when you come into the group. So in all the events I’ve been in with the U.S., it’s been like that. If it’s traveling to Arizona and playing with a soccer team there, then it’s the same mentality there. I appreciate that and I love it.”
“It doesn’t matter if you’re 33 or 19, people are hanging out with each other and being nice with each other,” he added. “I like that. They’re looking out for each other. So it’s really great to be part of this group.”
Following Tuesday’s match in opposition to Austria, Diskerud will return to Norway for Rosenborg’s ultimate match of 2013—the Norwegian Cup ultimate in opposition to Molde.
“This is probably the biggest game,” Diskerud stated. “I have been a part of it since I used to be a younger child, watching each single cup ultimate since I used to be about eight. Typically I did not even get into the stadium as a result of it was full. So I stayed exterior and simply listened to the gang. I’ve all the time needed to be a part of this and eventually now I’ve the prospect.”
“It is a dream come true.”
No matter what occurs in opposition to Austria or Molde, Diskerud has made an enormous leap ahead within the final 12 months. Within the coming days he may have an opportunity to place an exclamation level on 2013.
Would you wish to see Combine Diskerud on the 2014 World Cup workforce? Do you suppose he’ll get the decision? Inform us under.
Brian Sciaretta is an ASN contributor. He’s with the U.S. nationwide workforce in Vienna, and might be submitting tales for ASN immediately, tonight, and tomorrow.
