U.S. Men’s National Team captain Tim Ream has given a peek behind the curtain ahead of their first FIFA World Cup game on Friday against Paraguay.
With the tournament set to kick off in Mexico City on Thursday, with El Tri taking on South Africa, fellow hosts the U.S. and Canada will begin their campaigns the following day, with Mauricio Pochettino’s USMNT heading to the West Coast.
Set to take on Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, this will mark the first of three group stage games for the USMNT, with Australia next on June 19, before facing Türkiye on June 25.
Speaking on Monday, two days after losing 2-1 to four-time World Cup champions Germany in their final tournament warm-up game, center back Ream opened up on the team’s mentality as they prepare for Paraguay.
“I think the mentality is always the same. I think the group is in a really good place at the minute,” he said. “I think we've all been, I wouldn't say overwhelmed, but pleasantly surprised by the excitement and the buzz around the team and in the stadiums.
“Pulling up here with 5,500 fans ready to watch a training session is incredible. Yeah, I just think that we're in a good place mentally right now. It's been a long two weeks, a hard two weeks, but guys are in a great position mentally, physically, emotionally, and ready to get going.”
The past two weeks have seen the USMNT not only face one of the tournament’s title favorites in Germany, but also the recently dethroned Africa Cup of Nations champions, Senegal - a game which Pochettino’s side won 3-2, in front of another red, white, and blue-filled crowd at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.
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The excitement around the country surrounding Pochettino’s side is palpable, with expectations high. Although, according to Ream, expectations within the team are even higher, with the veteran keen to remind his teammates of the opportunity that awaits them.
The 38-year-old noted that he was old enough to “remember bits and pieces” of the last time the World Cup came to the U.S. back in 1994, adding, “I've tried to tell guys and tried to convey the message in the media that this is a once-in-a-career opportunity.
“And with that comes more expectation, more pressure, but at the same time, we have to enjoy it. There's nobody putting more expectation and more pressure on us than ourselves. And that's the way that it should be.
“For me, it's about just opening your eyes and taking everything in because this is unique. This is different. This is completely different from anything that any of us as players has experienced. So take it in. Enjoy it. Embrace everything that it is because it's so unique. It's so special, and it's not something that we'll ever get to do again.”
Source: Alloutsoccer.com
