CARSON, Calif. – Ahead of a critical year for the U.S. National Team, Gyasi Zardes has no intentions to rest on his laurels after a “phenomenal” first season with the USMNT.
In 2015, Zardes played in 19 matches for the United States, tying Claudio Reyna’s record for most appearances by a player in their first year with the national team. The Hawthorne native ended the year with three goals and four assists, including an impressive tally against the Netherlands in June.
This year, the 24-year-old striker figures to play a large role for the USMNT who start their docket with a pair of friendlies against Iceland on Jan. 31 and Canada on Feb 5. at StubHub Center.
“Now that I’m coming into my second January camp, I feel like I'm much more prepared because I know how the system works. It helps me as a player become more confident coming into these camps,” Zardes told reporters on Tuesday. “I know that I have to work hard day in and day out because there’s a lot of great American players coming up. Everybody is trying to get a spot on the roster and get called in, and I know that I have to give it my all.”
But in his second year with the national team, does Zardes regard himself a national team veteran? Well, not exactly.
“I’m just me. If the coaching staff considers me a veteran than that’s great, but I still look up to guys like Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore or Jermaine Jones,” Zardes said. “Those guys are clinical, and they’re consistent. I look forward to being like those guys and repeating good work ethic on and off the field. I see myself working day in and day out, no matter how many caps I have.”
With Copa América Centenario and 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying on the docket in the coming months, Zardes is optimistic that he’ll remain a regular for Jurgen Klinsmann’s squad.
“Tomorrow is not guaranteed, but the way that I see it is if an opportunity presents itself, I’m going to seize it. By being called into this camp, I’m taking every opportunity to give it my all because I’m here,” Zardes said. “If I get called into [future] camps for other tournaments then I’ll really be looking forward that. If I get called in, I’m going to seize the moment, and just give it my all because that’s all I can do.”
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog atwww.LAGalaxy.com/Insiderand contact him atLAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com
