USA captain Clint Dempsey on Monday said he plans to keep playing with the men’s national team until at least 2016, when the USA will host the Copa America tournament. The SeattleSounders forward, who is the only American to score in three consecutive World Cups, will be 33 at the time of the 16-team tournament. He noted, however, that appearing in the North, Central and SouthAmerican championship would depend on his performances.
“I would like to continue playing for the U.S. team, but that depends on performing and getting called in,” Dempseysaid in an interview on Monday. “For me, I would like definitely to push to play in Copa America. It’s a tournament that I always valued and wanted to participate in.” The former Fulhamand Tottenham Hotspur player added: “[USA coach] Jurgen [Klinsmann] has to decide if I’m still part of his plans or not and we’ll go from there.”
Dempsey currently leads thefirst-place Sounders in MLS with nine goals and three assists.