By FRANCO PANIZO
BOSTON – Miguel Ibarra was in disbelief.
It was about a week ago that his cell phone rang. Someone purporting to be Jurgen Klinsmann was on the other line informing Ibarra that he had been called up to the U.S. Men’s National Team. Surely, it was a prank.
As things turned out, it wasn’t. Klinsmann was indeed calling Ibarra to inform the Minnesota United winger that he had been selected for the national team’s upcoming camp. It was a message that was hard to believe, but one that eventually sunk in.
Ibarra arrived at his first international camp earlier this week as the first player from the U.S. second division to receive a call-up since Clyde Simms earned one back in 2005. The 24-year-old winger felt the difference in atmosphere almost immediately, and also did not have to wait very long to notice the speed and quality at which things are done on the field.
“It’s intense,” said the soft-spoken and shy Ibarra. “Everybody’s working hard and everybody comes out to practice and it’s like if they’re playing a game or playing 100 percent, 110 miles per hour. The pace is really fast.”
It has been noticeable during the U.S.’s training sessions early this week that Ibarra is adjusting to the speed of the game at the international level. That should not come as much of a surprise given that he is still just a three-year pro with no previous exposure to national team system, but even while acclimating he still has managed to show some glimpses of the player that has been one of top performers in NASL.
He even scored a splendid goal in a 9-v-9 game on Wednesday afternoon that turned some heads.
“You can see a player that has some quality,” said midfielder Alejandro Bedoya before Wednesday’s training session. “I didn’t know too much about him before, to be honest, but from what I hear, he’s been performing really well in that league and even though I don’t know so much about it, it speaks volumes about Jurgen trying to find young talent and giving players a chance and an opportunity to prove themselves and show themselves.”
Practicing with the U.S. squad at the start of a new World Cup cycle was not something Ibarra ever really imagined for himself. Instead, he was just concentrating on helping Minnesota try and win NASL’s Soccer Bowl.
The speedy, 5-foot-7 winger is doing his best to make sure United accomplishes that. He has led the club to spring season title and has them on the cusp of clinching the fall’s regular season championship, scoring eight goals and assisting on five others over the course of the two 2014 campaigns.
“I was just focused on (the) season and trying to win our league, of course,” said Ibarra, who has been accompanied to the U.S. camp by a couple of Minnesota United employees who are documenting this rare call-up. “Our team’s been playing well, we’ve been playing well, and it was just great to get called up.”
While getting his first call-up is special, the fact that this week will end with Landon Donovan’s final U.S. appearance is not lost on Ibarra. Being a native of Lancaster, California, Ibarra is quite familiar with the LA Galaxy and finds it a privilege to be part of the momentous occasion that will be Donovan’s international farewell against Ecuador on Friday night.
“He was one of the main guys for Galaxy for a long time, so I did watch him play,” said Ibarra. “I never thought I’d be here in his last game, so it’s going to be an honor just being there.”
Ibarra is not a sure bet to play on Saturday at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut. Even if he doesn’t, Ibarra has enjoyed this first week with the U.S., one that took him by surprise but that he is fully enjoying.
“It’s been amazing. It’s a great experience,” said Ibarra. “I’m getting to know the whole team, the whole staff. It’s amazing just being here.”
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Think Ibarra makes the 18, or maybe even sees the field? Glad to see a player from a lower-tier league get a shot with the national team? Think any other NASL players deserve a look?
Share your thoughts below.
Now somebody gives me a reason why Ibarra can’t see the field for the Ecuador game? For what I see, he is as good as everyone in the squad, and he can score goals.
THIS GUY DRIBBLE LIKE FREDDIE
Dribbling is not accepted in the Premier League or MLS. Taking players one on one is not allowed with the USMNT (es ist verboten).
He is a sure bet not to play on Saturday (unless you count trotting out on the field after midnight when the game is over “seeing the field”)
You mean Saturday at training? I”m sure a lot of the guys will still play on Saturday even if they play on FRIDAY at the game… #smartass
“It’s been amazing. It’s a great experience,” said Ibarra. “I’m getting to know the whole team, the whole staff. It’s amazing just being here.”
As I said last week, regardless of the amount of playing time (or not) that he sees in a friendly, the experience of being called-up will be beneficial for him and any potential call-ups in the future.
It bears noting that Simms’ callup was when they held a camp with “replacement players” during a NT players’ strike, only to resolve the labor issue and bring back the normal pool players. MLS players with NT history or aspirations likely turned down those callups out of union solidarity, leading to minor leaguers accepting the invites. Simms impressed, was the only one held over, and that’s how his MLS career got started. Ibarra might want the same bump but Simms was only picked because of the strike.
Even more of an honour for Ibarra, then.
so who has the rights to him??
I think that would be whoever is 1st in the NASL/USL Allocation Draft.
At first I thought that was an unflattering pic of Cameron.
So did I. After reading your comment I had to scroll up and look at it again. I thought they didn’t have a picture of him so they decided to throw a picture of Cameron up.
Which MLS team gets him?
Whichever one that wants to pay for him… so none of them.
Which ever one is prepared to pay for him? (Or rather, which ever team is prepared to trade something to RBNY or NYCFC or whoever has his “MLS rights” and then prepared to pay a transfer fee for him).
Are discovery rights still in effect for him? Also, this just shows the talent that falls through the cracks.
This whole rights thing is still a little funny to me. If a player goes to another team and decided to come back to MLS it should be free game for anyone in the league.
He was never in the league. He never signed an MLS contract. He was drafted, which means just about nothing.
He is signed with Minnesota United through 2016.
It doesn’t sound like he will see the field.
sub in for Donovan at 30th minute?
that would almost feel inappropriate! I was somehow hoping beas would be there and could sub in for Landon.
Based on what?
“adjusting to speed of play”
If we work with the same set of players, I think he gets one second half stint in one of the two games. If we call in new people for game 2 maybe he never sees the field or not for very long.
In his position it’s an honor just being in camp.
Well he didn’t really go out on a limb with saying he won’t see the field on Saturday. He has a better chance of seeing the field on Friday when they actually have a match.
Stoked for Miguel. Great kid. Bright future.
It’s funny how Ibarra is a “kid” with a “bright future” when he’s the same age as Altidore, a guy many on this board have called the USMNT team to move on from.
Not to poop on your comment Dinho, just giving some perspective.
Good point, Cajun. I never thought of it that way. I guess I say “kid” because I watched him play in college and he still seems like a kid to me. He’s young in the world of professional soccer, so that may play into it, too. Or, maybe we should consider the potential that Jozy still has a bright future? #silverlining?
Absolutely. Like I said, I’m not trying to troll. It’s just funny how we view players differently based on the amount of time we’ve seen them in the limelight so to speak.
I always find the comparison between Jozy and Mixx interesting, considering they are the same age.
Jozy has accomplished much more in the same span of time, but Mixx is considered one for the future and Jozy is considered an older player who needs to be put to pasture. It’s just an interesting phenomenon.
Soccer welfare recipient.
Really? You seen him play?