By Ridge Mahoney
(@ridgemax)
The time of decision is nigh for U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann as he prepares for thenext edition of USA-Mexico to kick off his second Hexagonal campaign.
Mexico head coach Juan Carlos Osorio has already
Since taking over the squad more than five years ago, theformer German international has emphasized the importance of fierce competition for roster spots and playing time. He decries the concept of guaranteed selection, though of course there are certainlyplayers in that category. The consistent recalls of Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore infuriate a contingent of U.S. fans, and so have the selections of over-30s Kyle Beckermanand Chris Wondolowski, whose advanced ages seemingly eliminate them for consideration if the ultimate goal is a spot on the 23-man squad for the 2018 World Cup.
Yet such outrageprobably won’t be heard if Klinsmann chooses Colorado midfielder Jermaine Jones, who is an amazing physical specimen but is 35 and has just returned from nearly four months on theshelf with a knee injury. On Sunday, the Rapids play the first game of a conference semifinals quadruple header; the roster announcement comes later in the day, so theoretically Klinsmann could watchJones play and make a very late adjustment based on what the coach observes.
In late August, after Jones sat out eight straight MLS games, Klinsmann called him into a national team camp to beevaluated. That has happened a few other times during Klinsmann’s tenure, but considering the upcoming opponents were St. Vincent & The Grenadines and Trinidad & Tobago, the move seemeda case of ‘What’s the point?”
The point is that the USA is well-stocked with central midfielders but not dominant figures like Jones. He is still a powerful force in games, duringtraining sessions and in the locker room. Just the sight of him going through a fitness evaluation, as he did in Jacksonville two months ago, is a sharp reminder that every time the national team getstogether — for a friendly, for a January camp, for a qualifier — there’s work to be done and a level of commitment that exceeds what is needed at club level.
Jones played like a manpossessed last June at the Copa America Centenario, which is to say he brought his normal levels of guile, touch and intensity. He missed the semifinal against Argentina because of a red card issuedto him in the prior match with Ecuador; it’s doubtful the Americans could have beaten Argentina with Jones in the lineup, but it’s also unlikely the loss would have been so one-sided.
Yes, Jones can be a powder keg ready to explode. But he gives the team what Klinsmann believes it needs, the ultimate big-game persona. He’s as much a factor off the field as on it.
At somepoint — maybe during the 19 months leading up to the next World Cup — Jones will succumb to inevitable physical deterioration and can no longer stand the strain and stresses of internationalcompetition. But for a rough start to the Hexagonal in Columbus and Costa Rica, he figures in the plans of Klinsmann, who has yet to find a replacement for his physical prowess and spiritual strength.Klinsmann has many younger players he wants to move forward and with good results in the first two games he has more leeway as the Hex unfolds.
Jones’ presence may not be enough to overcomethe Galaxy Sunday but he’s still essential when the USA takes on the world.
Never bought into the “he’s a red card” waiting to happen” crowd, and we have been blessed that his desire to represent the Nats as a hard tackling, thundering forward middie has worked out as well as it has! And do I need to mention Portugal? Now if only Danny Williams would get his head straight.