You noticed John Brooks’ 86th-minute strike. You have learn concerning the dream he had two nights prior. However we’re hoping you have not skilled the 21-year-old defender’s magic second fairly like this.
ASN Slideshow
BY
John Godfrey
Posted
June 18, 2014
8:09 PM
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NATAL, Brazil—When U.S. Soccer press officer Michael Kammarman escorted John Brooks out to fulfill a throng of quote-hungry journalists assembled within the blended zone in Enviornment das Dunas Monday night time, he properly suggested the microcassette-wielding scribes to change their expectations, and calm down.
“Take it easy, guys,” Kammarman stated. He was proper to take action.
Brooks, 21, was born and raised in Berlin, performs his skilled soccer for Hertha Berlin, and speaks what can greatest be described as halting English. (It’s miles higher than my non-existent German, I hasten so as to add.) Brooks hasn’t needed to face the English-speaking media fairly often as a result of, effectively, in his 4 earlier appearances for the US nationwide crew, he hasn’t achieved a complete lot.
However on Monday night time in Brazil, Brooks got here on at intermission for an injured Matt Besler in a massively vital sport for his adopted nation. The six-foot-four central defender struggled a bit at first however ultimately discovered the tempo of the sport and did a strong job towards a potent Ghana assault.
After which, after all, Brooks scored the largest American objective since Landon Donovan’s late strike towards Algeria within the 2010 World Cup. Much less vital however equally spectacular, Brooks completely charmed the U.S. media contingent together with his openness and humor.
This is a evenly edited model of Brooks’ interplay with the press simply a short time after his header gave the U.S. a 2-1 win to open its 2014 World Cup marketing campaign.
JOHN BROOKS: “It is an awesome second for me. It is unbelievable. I had a dream. I instructed some teammates that I dreamed that I scored within the eightieth minute and we win the sport. Now it was the 86th minute, and we received. So, that is good.
THE PRESS: When was the dream—final night time?
“Two nights ago.”
How did you rating within the dream?
“Also with a header, yeah.”
[Laughter]
Additionally on a nook?
“Yeah.”
Had been you nervous whenever you got here on?
“Yeah, of course. Of course. The first few moments I was very nervous.”
How tall are you?
“Six-four.”
Did you speak to the vice chairman?
“No, not yet.”
Have you ever dreamt about scoring targets previously?
“No, it was my first dream.”
[Laughter]
“Hopefully not the last.”
[Laughter]
Did you inform Jurgen you had that dream earlier than the sport?
“No, no, no. I just talked to my teammates.”
Did you speak to your loved ones in Germany or Illinois earlier than the sport?
“I talked a lot to my family. Before the game I talked to them again and said I just start at the bench. They said, ‘That’s OK. Hopefully you come in.’ Yeah, I came in. And now it’s great.”
What did you consider the sport total?
“The first goal was, yeah, perfect. A perfect start. It couldn’t be better. Ghana is a very good team. They showed it. But we played also very good.”
What have you ever realized since coming into coaching camp on Might 14th?
“A lot. I’m not that kind of person that talks a lot. They always told me that I should talk because my position is very, very…”
Communication?
“Yeah. You have to talk a lot. I’m trying hard and it’s getting better.”
Are you able to describe the run on the objective? What had been you pondering? What sort of run did you make? What did the defender do?
“I just ran in the box and hoped that the ball land on my head. And it did.”
[Laughter]
Whenever you got here on within the second half, did you keep in mind the dream?
“No. I didn’t remember the dream. I remembered it right after I scored. When I came in I just wanted to do simple things.”
In different phrases, he bumped into the field and the ball landed on his head. Job effectively performed, Mr. Brooks—each throughout the sport, and after.
John Godfrey is the founder and editor in chief of American Soccer Now, and he’d like to listen to your ideas about Brooks’ massive second.
