CARSON, Calif. – Oscar Sorto may be training with the full U.S. National Team, but his mind is firmly focused on helping the U.S. Under-23 team qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janiero.
Sorto was brought into USMNT camp as one of a dozen players with Olympic age-eligibility who should form the core of the Under-23 team that will participate in the 2015 CONCACAF Championship. Planning for Brazil has been at the forefront of Jurgen Klinsmann’s mind especially after the U.S. head coach revealed earlier this week in an interview with Fox Sports that qualification will take place later this year.
Ahead of qualification, Sorto is eager for minutes with the LA Galaxy first team as well as their USL PRO affiliate LA Galaxy II.
“That news changes it a lot,” Sorto told LAGalaxy.com. “It means that I’ve got to get to work right away if I’m going to make the roster. I’m hoping to make that group because I want to be in Brazil next year.”
After two weeks with the national team, Sorto certainly figures to be in the team’s Olympic plans particularly after receiving a glowing recommendation from Klinsmann on Thursday.
“I think Oscar over the first 10 to 12 days has done very well,” Klinsmann said. “He now knows the differences between the youth and the senior national team level. He understands the intensity that we’re working under and I think that every day is huge for him.
“I see in him a lot of potential to be developed and he knows that he has a long way to go but he has a will to learn and a will to listen,” he continued. “Everything is there for him to grab. He’s at a great organization with a coach with so much experience developing players and now it’s down to him to prove to his coaches that he wants to climb up the ladder.”
Part of Sorto’s continued growth is about dealing with those changes that Klinsmann mentioned between the club and international level. Despite being a mainstay with the U.S. U-20s and appearing in the 2013 U-20 World Cup, learning the intricacies of Klinsmann’s coaching style has been a major part of Sorto’s January camp experience.
“It’s been fun this past two weeks to learn his coaching style,” said Sorto. “He focuses more on drills where [LA Galaxy head coach] Bruce Arena has more of an emphasis on playing soccer. We do a lot of fitness here, like going around the cones with the ball and even take classes to learn about tactics. It’s another level.”
Whether Sorto’s success means that he’ll be traveling with the U.S. squad to South America for their match against Chile remains to be seen, but the youngster is confident that he’ll be in Klinsmann’s plans for Brazil and beyond even if he is not included.
“I don’t know what will happen and haven’t had any conversations with the coaching staff, but I’m optimistic,” said Sorto. “I feel like I’ve done well these two weeks with the national team. Hopefully I can make that roster.”
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com.
