photo by Mark J. Rebilas/USA Today Sports
By RYAN TOLMICH
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last summer, Matt Besler and Jermaine Jones were crucial members of the U.S. Men’s National Team as the Americans battled through a rigorous World Cup. This summer, the duo was noticeably absent, forced to sit on the sidelines as the U.S. floundered in the Gold Cup’s knockout stages.
Now, Besler and Jones are back in the fold for two crucial friendlies ahead of a Confederations Cup playoff clash with Mexico that will likely prove to be the team’s defining moment in 2015.
For the pair of veterans, the call-ups should result in their first international appearances since February, giving each of them the chance to reclaim their places in the team ahead of October’s playoff.
“I don’t feel like I’ve been gone for too long,” Besler said Monday. “It’s always nice to be back no matter how long its been. I’m just looking forward to the opportunity.”
Besler’s chance comes on the heels of controversy stemming from a series of back-and-forth statements between the Sporting KC defender and USMNT head coach Jurgen Klinsmann. Since debating the team’s fitness after the January camp, Besler was believed by some on the outside to be persona non grata as the team looked to blood centerback prospects like Ventura Alvarado, John Brooks, and Tim Ream.
The Sporting KC centerback insists that any perceived disconnect between he and Klinsmann is just that: perceived. After a series of conversations with the USMNT boss, Besler is excited at the prospect of entering a more competitive defensive pool that appears much different than the one he was part of earlier this year.
“I think everybody has moved on from that. It was a long time ago,” Besler said. “We’ve had private conversations, but I’m very excited to be back with this group and, hopefully, I can show that I have a lot to offer to the group.”
At the time of Besler’s departure, one his competitiors was fellow returnee Jones, who is no longer listed as a centerback but rather a midfielder.
For Jones, this week’s return to the national team comes on the heels of injuries that have kept him out a majority of the summer. Attempting to return to form, Jones played 60 minutes with the New England Revolution this past weekend.
Jones is now looking forward to rejoining the national team after a trying summer. Forced to watch from afar, Jones is hoping to add something new, yet familiar, to a USMNT side that missed his presence over the summer.
“It’s always bad when you have to watch games from outside and can’t help,” Jones said. “They played Haiti in Boston, so I was at the stadium and watched the game live, and it’s tough.
“In another way, you try to see stuff so that when you come back the next time, you can help and go forward and make the team again to where we’re at the same level that we played at at the World Cup.”
For both Besler and Jones, it’s now about reintegrating and finding form ahead of a crucial clash with Mexico. The two upcoming friendlies vs. Peru and Brazil will help in that regard while also providing a unique sense of urgency for the players and the rest of the USMNT.
Still, Besler and Jones are glad to be back in the fold. They know they have to earn their positions with the national team back, but Besler and Jones are embracing the challenge with much excitement.
“Competition is good,” Besler said. “It pushes guys along. It helps the team get stronger and that’s what we need right now. “
Added Jones: “It’s always nice to be back and be around the guys. I’m happy.”
Cameron was fine saturday. His team was also playing with 9 men. Hes had 3 acceptable games at CB so far and sadly that makes him a must start there for USMNT
I don’t see Besler bumping Brooks from the LCB position. Gonzalez hasn’t looked any better than Alvarado. Cameron looks good in his first couple of games at CB but not in his last outing. Alvarado may be bumped to RB because there is a new for these two games..
Have to disagree on Alvarado. No one has looked worse than Alvarado as a CB with the USMNT during the Gold Cup and since with his club team. It’s really not even close. Gonzalez or Cameron are big upgrades over Alvarado right now.
Really interested to see Cameron. With the struggles that the USMNT has had at CB and RB since the World Cup, it’s hard to imagine that a regular CB and RB starter in the EPL hasn’t been worthy of a call up for over a year.
I’d say Brooks was just as bad as Alvarado. There was a major disconnection between the two players and both suffered as a consequence. Also, I’m pretty sure Alvardo had one bad game for America right after the end of the gold cup, but has since been in the lineup.
As far as Cameron goes, it’s well known that Klinsy doesn’t rate him as an outside back and has said on numerous occasions that he sees him as a CB and playing the position as his club. If he wanted nondynamical outside backs he could of easily called up Eric Lichaj or Jonathon Spector
Louis Z,
Orozco who has played right back before and Garza are probably the RB candidates for these games.
GW,
I can see Orozco playing RB, he has done it before for us but he was just ok, come to think of it, his overall game is just ok, doesn’t make mistakes but can be beat by a more athleticfaster attacker. Garza at RB? I don’t think I have ever seen it before.
Good to see that the Jones to CB experiment is over or at least put on hold while experienced CB’s in top leagues are given an opportunity (Ream, Cameron).
Jones will need to be influential in the midfield, especially with Bradley out for the Peru matchup.
Hopefully Besler, Ream, Cameron and Gonzalez will have good camps and bump Alvarado down the depth chart. Alvarado is a good prospect, but was clearly overmatched in the Gold Cup.
Are we sure that experiment is over?
Cravin F.
You seem to be making the assumption that Alvarado will always be the same player you saw in the Gold Cup.
He’s a young player and should get better.
I would think that you would hope for that to happen.
All of the CB candidates Alvarado, Ream, Gonzo, Brooks, Cameron, Besler etc. have had their good moments and their WTF moments but none of them have been consistently impressive.
There have been no John Terry/Rio Ferdinand/ Nemanja Vidic clones there, at least not yet.
Geoff has played well at centerback for Stoke since the start of the EPL season. Assuming that continues, to me that means it’s him and whoever is the best of the rest for the playoff game.
Actually, I was referring to the “Jones at CB” experiment.
Glad to have them back, especially Jermaine. The USMNT sorely missed Jones this Gold Cup. Of course, Besler was missed too given how terrible Brooks and Alvarado were.