BY
Brian Sciaretta
Posted
June 27, 2024
10:50 AM
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THIS SUMMER will mark the primary time the USA has participated within the males’s Olympic match in 16 years. For many of the gamers on the group, it will likely be a chance to construct a case to push into the complete nationwide group within the two years main as much as the World Cup. For Walker Zimmerman, the chance is completely different. The U.S. nationwide group veteran is there to supply management, steerage, and a reliable presence within the backline.
The present Olympic group, as anticipated with youth groups, is up and down. Lots of the group’s gamers come from the COVID era that has not performed a lot collectively as the worldwide pandemic canceled their key youth tournaments such because the 2021 U-20 World Cup and varied different youth groups for prolonged intervals. The U.S. group was additionally late to start preparations for the Olympics, as the primary camp in October 2023 left head coach with Marko Mitrovic with simply 4 camps collectively earlier than the group assembles in Paris.
The outcomes have been blended. The primary camp noticed the group defeat Mexico and Japan whereas the second camp noticed a more-experimental roster draw Iraq and lose to Morocco. Then in March, the group simply defeated Guinea and draw France 2-2 in France. However in the newest camp, the group had poor efficiency in a 2-0 loss to Japan in Kansas Metropolis.
Zimmerman, 31, has lengthy been rumored to be an overage candidate for the group for 4 causes. First, he brings management having performed in a World Cup and having captained the U.S. group in World Cup qualifiers. Second, he performs central protection and the U-23 participant pool may be very skinny at that place. Third, acquiring a launch from Nashville SC was all the time seemingly.
The ultimate purpose is that Zimmerman was all the time enthusiastic concerning the thought of taking up the job as an overage participant and main the group in Paris. Zimmerman first started discussing the thought of being an overage participant with Gregg Berhalter in December. When the complete nationwide group coach known as to see if he was , the reply was fast.
“Maybe a year or two years ago I’d heard about the pool and that they might have a need for center backs,” Zimmerman stated. “I was kind of following along. And then ultimately, I think the first real conversation was with Gregg in December. He asked me if I was interested and I was like, absolutely.”
Mitrovic has been clear that central protection has been recognized as a place of want for the Olympic group as there have solely been a couple of gamers rising at first group ranges. Zimmerman checked quite a lot of packing containers to be added to this group, however after discussing the matter with him, Zimmerman’s enthusiasm solely bolstered his case.
“We identified that it would be a position of need for us and we would like to bring an overage defender and we didn’t want to bring any overage player until he was in strong consideration to go to the Olympics,” Mitrovic defined. “I met with Walker, and we were very, very impressed with his level of commitment to go to the Olympics. I used to work with Walker, and I am very aware of all the qualities he brings to the table as a player on and off the field. His commitment to play for the United States at the Olympics is incredible and we’re very happy have Walker with us.”
From a nationwide group perspective, the Olympic group may be very younger and the chance to ship a veteran chief to that group was nearly a no brainer.
“Walker is someone who was with us at the World Cup and someone we think very highly of,” stated U.S. nationwide group assistant coach B.J. Callaghan. “He’s also a player who has a ton of leadership qualities. He is a leader and captain-type player. When he goes down with the Olympic group, we expect nothing less. When he does down there, he can transcend our identity into that group and also be a leadership-type guy who has World Cup experience to lend to that younger group.”
Like many Individuals, Zimmerman watched the Olympics rising up and loved following all of the sports activities and the general public enthusiasm of the match. In 2016 he was on the roster for the U.S. U-23 group when it misplaced to Colombia in a playoff to go to the Olympics and figured his Olympic dream was over at the moment.
“The Olympics is something that I grew up watching as a kid,” Zimmerman stated “I always dreamed of playing in the Olympics. When I was in that locker room after we lost in Dallas to Colombia, I thought my Olympic dreams were over. To kind of have the last six months to a year with the prospect of this being ahead of me, I was very excited. Obviously, I always want to be a part of the first team, but having talks with Gregg and Marko and just where I was coming back from an injury, this seems to be like a very good fit. It would be amazing to be an Olympian.”
“I thought my Olympic dream was over,” he added. “With it reignited, I think I can bring a lot of perspective to the guys of just don’t take this for granted. But also, from the experience of the World Cup or other big international tournaments, just bringing that experience to this group of being in a major worldwide competition… I think there’s some lessons that can be learned.”
After discussions with Berhalter and Mitrovic, it was nearly Zimmerman getting wholesome after a minor knee process in March stored him out of worldwide responsibility throughout that window. He lastly returned to the sector and this cleared his approach to be part of the Olympic group’s camp in June the place he started work with Mitrovic.
Regardless of the end result towards Japan, Zimmerman is assured concerning the group’s means to compete in France the place they’re drawn into a gaggle with France, Guinea, and New Zealand. He felt that camp went nicely and the very first thing he tried to convey to the group was extra vocal communication among the many gamers whereas on the sector.
“I think it is a fairly quiet team on the field,” Zimmerman stated. “I think I noticed that in the scrimmage. There is a need for a certain level of discipline and intensity, but with communication. Oftentimes, when you’re working out or running really hard, you might not be communicating or talking to your teammates as much as you should. I like to think that I’m bringing a level of communication that was needed. And they’ve been very receptive to that. I don’t think it’s changing the way I play, but I think that the way that I normally play is a big help to the team in terms of that organization, effort, and focus.”
As for the age distinction with him and his new teammates, he says it hasn’t been awkward – as if he had been reenrolling again to varsity.
“If you didn’t even bring up that I am an overage player, I’d feel like I’ve just been welcomed as a part of the team since day one,” Zimmerman stated. “I’ve been accepted in the group very quickly. I don’t even think about it as an age thing. It’s just these are my peers and I play with younger guys all the time… The other part is just like the intensity, the game plan is very attack minded. It’s very fearless. I think a lot of the players have adopted that mentality of – we’re going to be aggressive. We’re going to try and bring the game to you with our effort, with our energy, with runs in behind. It’s encouraging to see just that level of fearlessness.”
An in just a bit greater than a month, that fearlessness of the U.S. group shall be examined with the world watching as they tackle France in Marseille as the primary occasion of the Paris Olympics. For Zimmerman, he has performed in massive video games earlier than however this shall be particular.
“That’s a game is going to be a once in a lifetime type of game,” Zimmerman stated. “You have World Cup games where you play at the highest level. But this is going to be up there playing a host country, and the Olympics fans are going to be crazy. Marseilles is such a soccer city. They’re going to be very passionate supporting France. It’s going to be a great environment for us to challenge ourselves and get a good result.”
“It’s such an honor to be considered as an overage player,” he added. “But ultimately, I feel like I’m a kid at heart.”
