Photo by Bill Streicher/USA TODAY Sports

By RYAN TOLMICH

Saturday was supposed to be DaMarcus Beasley’s U.S. Men’s National Team swansong, but the four-time World Cup veteran won’t be so quick to close the door a second time.

After originally retiring from the international game back in December, Beasley was called in by head coach Jurgen Klinsmann to help guide the U.S. through the Gold Cup knockout stages.

It didn’t prove to be a successful venture, as the USMNT settled for fourth place with Friday’s loss to Panama in penalty kicks, with Beasley missing the USMNT’s fifth and final attempt.

Following the loss, Beasley admitted that he won’t be so quick to rush to judgement again, leaving the door open for a USMNT return and a chance to wipe away the sting of Friday’s loss.

“I’m not going to say I’m retired again. I’m not going to say that,” Beasley said. “I’m sure I’ll speak to Jurgen and see what he’s thinking for the future, the short future. It depends on how I’m playing. I feel fine. I feel fit.

“I feel like I’m getting back from a little injury, but throughout the season with Houston, I’ve felt good. I don’t feel old. I feel fit and I feel ready to play. If Jurgen wants to give me a call again, that’s a conversation that we’ll have, but I’m not going to say I’m retired again.”

For his part, Klinsmann said that the door will always be open for the 33-year-old fullback, who has earned 121 caps.

Praising Beasley’s leadership, Klisnmann believes that the veteran should receive a more fitting send-off than Saturday’s loss, one more befitting of a player of the fullback’s stature and legacy with the national team.

“Beas is a guy that, whenever he’s needed, he wants just to help,” Klinsmann said. “I just said the other day he’s a giver. I said right after the game, in the locker room, ‘Beas, I don’t know if you can walk out like that. We might have to get you back in’.” The guys were clapping because they love him. The locker room loves Beas.

“We’ll see. It depends on him. He made that decision a year ago. He came back for the team. The plan was for the knockout stage, it didn’t work out the way we wanted because of this little strain, but from my end, I’m always open.”

Although Saturday was supposed to be Beasley’s final game in a USMNT shirt, the fullback was quick to point out that he doesn’t want Saturday’s events to be all about him.

For Beasley, Saturday was about the experience for his teammates, as the group heads into World Cup qualifying. Citing the difficult road that comes ahead, Beasley says results like Saturday’s serve as a lesson that will prove vital in coming months.

That attitude is one that has earned Beasley limitless respect in the USMNT locker room, respect that could be the difference for a team in the midst of a disappointing stretch of results and performances. That respect is what makes Beasley such a valued member of the USMNT, one that players like Brad Guzan hope will be included in the games to come.

“Every time Beas is with us, he commands everyone’s utmost respect,” Klinsmann said. “His resume speaks for itself. It’s disappointing obviously the way things ended today, but in terms of welcoming him back into our national team, I think that door is always open because he brings so much to the team.”

“We want to win. Put the other stuff to the side about it maybe being my last game,” Beasley added. “That part doesn’t really affect me. I wanted to win the game. It didn’t happen, that’s football, but we have to pick ourselves up, take criticism from all you guys that you’re going to give us in the morning, and pick ourselves up and be better for it.”