Jermaine Jones knows his time is coming to a close. At 34-years-old and with nearly 350 games under his belt, Jones only has so many chances left to shine under the brightest of lights before his international career comes to a close.
That fact was in the back of Jones’ mind on Tuesday night against Costa Rica in what turned out to be one his most impressive and commanding performances in a U.S. Men’s National Team uniform.
With both his and his team’s back against the wall following a loss to Colombia, Jones unleashed a Man of the Match performance in a 4-0 win over Costa Rica. The veteran midfielder provided the USMNT’s second goal, but it was perhaps his pure desire to cover obscene amounts of ground that made Jones so valuable. On Tuesday night, Jones simply turned back the clock while helping the U.S. find new life in the Copa America.
“Before the season with my club, I said that I understand that it goes year by year, so I’ll say that I try to enjoy very game I play, both for my club and my country,” Jones said following Tuesday’s win. “Today I knew that a big tournament could be over, if we lose that game, so I tried to do my best for the team. My quality, to get that freedom to go forward, to go back. Today was a completely different one than what we had with Colombia, so I went out there and tried to enjoy it.
“Today, you know if you lose that game, you’re out. It’s a big tournament, and when it’s played in your country, you’d have to watch the whole tournament on TV. That’s something we didn’t want, especially me. That’s why me and the team came out with that performance.”
What made Jones’ efforts more remarkable is the performance that preceded it.
Against Colombia, Jones was about as ineffective as you would expect a 34-year-old midfielder to be against the world’s third-ranked team. Tasked with helping control Juan Cuadrado, Jones played an atypical game. He rarely registered one of his trademark marauding runs forward and was unable to make that one big defensive play that always seems to get his game going.
On Tuesday, it was just the opposite. Jones’ goal provided the best glimpse into the match he played. After bustling into challenges with two Costa Rica attackers, Jones bursted down the left sideline before finding the ball at his feet. After sprinting at least 75 total yards in just a matter of seconds, Jones showed no signs of exhaustion in firing a pinpoint effort to the far post.
It proved a game-changing effort from a player that has made a habit of changing games when it really matters. From his 2014 World Cup goal against Portugal to the Snow Clasico to his recent exploits with the Colorado Rapids, Tuesday’s efforts proved to be just another highlight in Jones’ illustrious career.
“The goals came and the goals are a confidence builder and some players really stepped it up. Jermaine was one of them today, putting his stamp on this game,” said head coach Jurgen Klinsmann. “He kind of gave the message with Michael (Bradley) in the midfield that this is our game. This is our three points.
“We want to put ourselves in the driving seat for the last game against Paraguay, and that’s what these guys did in the middle of the park, so they have every right to enjoy that moment.”
Jones was the first to admit that he cherishes every moment he gets the opportunity to put on a USMNT jersey. Tuesday was his 65th appearance for the U.S., and with the 2018 World Cup looming, the veteran midfielder is unsure how many he has left.
Performances like Tuesday’s will keep Jones in the fold for a long, long time. With a combination of athleticism, technicality, hustle and veteran guile, Jones showed once again that he is a player that is crucial to the USMNT’s efforts in the here and now.
“We showed today that we can beat the good teams, and that there’s no reason to be scared about somebody,” Jones said. “We know that Colombia is a real good team, so they can lose against (Costa Rica). It’s a normal game. Costa Rica, we all respect Costa Rica, and we know, with the quality that we have, we can beat both of them.”
A couple of points:
1) I keep thinking of the CONCACAF Cup and how old, slow, and technically deficient our lineup was. We won’t be any better against Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Belgium, or any other top team when Jones and Dempsey line up against them, than we were the last time they line up against those type of teams. A “turn back the clock” performance against a very out of form Costa Rica, who we’ve beaten 14 consecutive times on home soil in competitive matches, will change that. We wasted a valuable opportunity to get our next generation a competitive match.
2) If Nagbe started, with Wood up top and either Pulisic on the wing or someone else on the wing, would we not have beaten Costa Rica? I mean, Jones and Dempsey did have good games. But, our stated goal is to advance in the knockout rounds at a World Cup. I still don’t think we have the technical ability on the ball to do that until we get Nagbe, Wood, and Pulisic working together.
3) If Jones and Dempsey are starting in Russia, we’ll have seriously failed in player development. As good as those players have been, and I love Dempsey, they’ve never been good enough to beat world class teams. And if 2018 rolls around and they start, at a time they are past their primes, what does that say about our development?
that’s a lot of words to say he’s good enough to beat costa rica but not colombia.
A lot of people (and words) have that same issue against Colombia.
of course! i guess I’m just taking issue with this redemption narrative that jermaine and the team as a whole was much improved from the colombia match.
i didn’t think we were that bad against colombia, and i didn’t think we were that great against costa rica: the vital fact is that colombia is better than us, and costa rica (esp. without navas) is worse than us.
Nate, you seem to agree with JK who basically said the same thing.
Damn. People is Colombia. Columbia is the District in which our Capital is located. Or the British part of Canada.
“People is Colombia”
-the guy correcting someone on grammar/spelling…
:>)
The scenario for advancing looks good, and the margin of the win was really important. I’m surprised there’s not more talk about that.
The tiebreakers for advancement are 1.) goal diff. 2.) goals scored and 3.) head to head.
I think it works out like this.. If we tie Paraguay, CR would need to beat Col by 6 goals to catch us on goal difference. So essentially a tie puts us through in second.
If we win and CR beats Columbia we likely finish first in the group (helps that head to head is the last tiebreaker.) A 1 goal win for us and a 1 goal loss puts us at +3, and Columbia at +2.
Of course if Columbia ties they ensure first in group so they are playing for a tie. If they do tie CR and Paraguay beats us by any margin they are through in second place.
Thoughts on most likely scenario: Columbia plays for and gets the tie. If so, it’s must win hope for Paraguay who showed great attacking spirit – even with 10 – against Columbia. So Paraguay will be coming at us balls to the wall from the opening whistle. This puts us on the position to hold and counter – probably the US’s tried and true strongest suit. And therefore the first goal in our game will be HUGE. If we hit on a counter it opens Paraguay to sheer desperation. But if they score first they go into the euphoria of a last minute turn of tables to go through with the win. And suddenly we are at desperate risk of elimination. This will be an awesome match.
Do you by any chance work for Adidas?
Thanks for the breakdown G-Dub!
It’s always good to know where we stand going into the final game. Go Costa Rica!
It’s kind of up in the air as to who we would want to play in the next round if we do go through. Do we want to take on a wounded Brazil, a decent looking Ecuador or an in form Peru?
Has anyone seen Rob? :*(
Jermaine Jones is probably America’s greatest technical player. He has a whole other game that even players like Claudio Reyna and John O’Brien couldn’t touch. Great, great world class player!
I agree with everything except the first sentence. Lol. I think Nagbe has more technical ability but jones has the drive and heart and other intangibles that makes him so rare and valuable. Even FJ might be more technically sound. Just my opinion:) go USA!!!
Don’t talk about heart and desire, according to Rob neither have relevance in the game. But I agree with you, and while he may not be the MOST technical but he is still quite technical front to back and he is a bruiser. I remember watching him for Schalke, just box to box out working everyone, its rare and I am glad we have him as an example and mentor. Sadly, finding a new JJ and Dempsey for that matter will be difficult.
He was too old when the Revs decided not to sign him.
He is crushing it with Colorado, in some ways looks better than ever.
He was too old, the nat team needs to move on to the younger guys.
He has been great still.
He will be too old for 2018.
?
To my knowledge he hasn’t planned any vacations, doesn’t take practices off and is staying form (and shape).
o say nothing of the size and determination of his heart. He has a legitimate shot at Russia based on those variables alone.
Look at Rafael Marquez, yes I know they play diff positions, but that one player from Cameroon played till he was 40 for the Cameroon national team. Roger forgot last name.
2018 World Cup I see him starting as well.