“Tim is the grandpa of the group.
Little did we expect Ream to be the first World Cup team of the year, including Ream. It wasn’t his age. Rather, it was his long absence. He had not received an invitation for 14 months until he got a call from coach Greg Berhalter two weeks ago.
However, the World Cup required experience, especially from the second youngest team in the tournament (25.2 years old). (Only Ghana is young at 24.7.) The US situation also required a boost in his defense, a center that lost two contenders to injury and injury. Showed vulnerability in September tune-up.
Additionally, Ream has had a great season in the Premier League, playing alongside US left-back Anthony Robinson.
“He’s the team’s top performer,” said Verhalter. “It’s really hard to ignore something like that. … All the pieces lined up to bring him back.
Although he has not played for the US team since the first World Cup qualifier in September 2021, Ream could start his first US World Cup match against Wales on Monday.
“You never give up hope,” said the St. Louis native, who also played for the New York Red Bulls and England’s Bolton Wanderers. “You never quite say you’re out of sight. There was a conversation [with Berhalter] before every time [match] Windows since October last year, so I knew it was possible. “
Still, he wasn’t optimistic.
“I’m not involved, I’m not called,” he said.
He said he saw Ream off at camp after camp, including a two-game tour of Europe this fall, but Burhalter never closed the door.
“No decision made [at that point]they are not final,” said Berhalter. “So just because the guy doesn’t go to camp doesn’t mean he can’t go to camp again.”
Then came the invitation to the best camps.
“Personally, things have changed for the better,” Ream said with a smile. He joined the Central Guard along with Walker Zimmerman, Aaron Long, and Cameron Carter-Vickers.
Reem started the 2022 qualifying opener in El Salvador and was on the bench for the next two games. However, over the course of the remaining eleven qualifying rounds and several friendly matches, Burhalter opted for other partnerships in central defense.
During Burhalter’s observation of Ream’s play at Fulham, Ream said: I never thought I would be able to participate in the World Cup here. “
He and Robinson are sure bets for the team at the World Cup and have spoken regularly about Ream’s prospects.
“I thought there was a good chance Tim would be called,” Robinson said. “There was no doubt for me, especially when I met Chris. [Richards] Make sure you can’t go.so that it is finally confirmed [with the Nov. 9 roster announcement], which was great for me and for him. “
Richards, a front-runner for Premier League club Crystal Palace, has been out of action for months due to an injury.Starting Candidate Miles Robinson He was ruled out in May after tearing his Achilles tendon.
Ream was not selected by default. But, apparently, the outlook was not promising.
“A lot of people thought he was depressed,” said DeAndre Yedlin, right behind him. Members of this team never give up. That’s a big part of our DNA. “
Ream has earned a way to be reckoned with due to his solid work at Fulham. Last season he started all 46 of his games and played all but 69 of his 4,140 minutes to help the Cottegers lead the championship and win promotion to the Premier League. . This season, Ream has started all 15 of his games and missed two minutes.
Fulham are looking to maintain their place in consecutive Premier League seasons for the first time in nine years. The club was promoted in 2018 but relegated the following year. “He had a hard time,” said Verhalter. ‘The whole team struggled’
Fulham rose again in 2020 before falling again.
His promotion and relegation adventures with the club mirrored his precarious position in the national team.
Adams (Leeds United) asked Ream how he feels about the situation in the United States after clubs clash last month.
“I wasn’t called to the last camp because of him, yeah, maybe it was tough,” Adams said. He’s an important part of our team.At times we probably missed him.It’s good to have him back.”
Note: The US team conducted a training session in Doha with Al Gharafa SC, the stadium that serves as the training venue for the Americans. Reporters and members of the public were barred from entering, suggesting both teams were scrimmage. No details have been announced. …
With all three group matches set to kick off at 10pm local time, Berhalter shifted his workouts into the evening after starting camp with a series of midday practices.
